Incidence, Risk Factors, and Subsequent Health Outcomes of Pyogenic Liver Abscesses: A Scoping Review of Evidence From Population-Based Studies

Population-based study of the epidemiology of and the risk factors for pyogenic liver abscess

P47 Presentation, management, and outcomes of pyogenic liver abscess in a single UK centre: a comparison between centres and an evaluation of liver abscess management

Population-based analysis of incidence, comorbid conditions, microbiological characteristics, and outcomes of pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) in children. Retrospective analysis of National Inpatient Sample (NIS) and Kids Inpatient database (KID) database from 2003 to 2014 and included patients between 1 and 20 years of age. Using ICD-9 codes, we identified all hospitalizations with PLA and compared them with 1 : 10 age- and gender-matched controls. Amebic liver abscess and Candida infections were excluded. Total number of PLA admissions is 4075. The overall incidence of PLA is 13.5 per 100,000 hospitalizations, which increased by 60% between 2003 and 2014. The mean age of patients was 13.03 ± 6.1 years and were predominantly boys-61%. Of the comorbid conditions, hepatobiliary malignancy had the highest odds ratio (OR 71.8) followed by liver transplant (OR 38.4), biliary disease (OR 29.9), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (OR 5.35), other GI malignancies (OR 4.74), primary immune deficiency disorder (OR 4.13). Patients with PLA had 12 times increased odds of having associated severe sepsis. Infective endocarditis (IE) (OR 4.5), appendicitis (OR 1.8), and diverticulitis (OR 8.1) were significantly associated with PLA. Almost 39% (1575) of the PLA patients had positive culture, whereas Streptococcus (10.8%) and Staphylococcus spp (9.2%) were the most common pathogens. About 45% of PLA patients underwent percutaneous liver abscess aspiration whereas 4.1% had hepatic resection for PLA. The mortality rate of PLA was 0.8% (n = 32). The incidence of PLA is steadily increasing over the last decade among pediatric population in the United States. Hepatobiliary malignancy and liver transplant are the most common comorbid conditions associated with PLA.

BackgroundJuxta-papillary duodenal diverticulum (JPDD) has been associated with obstructive jaundice and ascending cholangitis. Potential mechanisms include periampullary colonization of pathogenic bacteria and mechanical obstruction. However, the relation of JPDD with pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) has not been reported. Moreover, approximately one third of patients with PLA have no identifiable risk factors and are labelled as “cryptogenic”. We hypothesized that JPDD is an unidentified risk factor for cryptogenic PLA and the aim of this study was to examine this association.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective chart review to identify cases of PLA (n = 66) and compare those to matched controls (n = 66). 66 patients met the study inclusion criteria of a diagnosis of PLA using computerized tomography (CT) imaging and either positive culture or confirmed resolution after antibiotic therapy. Patients with diagnoses of amebic liver abscess, traumatic liver abscess, post cholecystectomy liver abscess, concurrent acute cholecystitis, and hepatobiliary malignancy were excluded. Controls were identified from a radiology database and matched one-to-one with the cases by age and sex. Demographic and clinical data was extracted from electronic medical records. CT scan images of all cases and controls were reviewed by a single expert radiologist to identify the presence of JPDD. Statistical tests including Chi-square and t-test with multiple logistic regression were used to examine the group differences in JPDD and other factors.ResultsAmong 132 study samples, 13.6% (9/66) of the cases were found to have JPDD, compared to 3.0% (2/66) among controls (p = 0.03). This corresponded to an odds ratio (OR) of 5.05 [OR 5.05; CI 1.05–24.4] on multiple logistic regression analysis. In addition, 1/3rd of PLA cases with JPDD had no other traditional risk factors (cryptogenic PLA). However, a statistically significant association of JPDD with cryptogenic PLA could not be established possibly because of a small number of cases. We found significantly high rate of diabetes mellitus (DM) (42.4%; n = 28/66) among cases compared to controls (21.2%; n = 14/66; p = 0.01).ConclusionWe found a significant association between JPDD and PLA. We need studies with larger sample sizes to confirm this relationship and to explore if JPDD could be related to cryptogenic liver abscesses.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Liver abscess (LA) is a well-described disease in the medical literature; however, information about its characteristics and outcome in the Middle East is lacking. We compared the mode of presentation, risk factors, management and outcome of LA patients in Saudi Arabia with cases from the United Kingdom (UK).DESIGN AND SETTING:Retrospective review of LA patients from three tertiary care centers (2 from Saudi Arabia and 1 from the UK) over a period of 10 years, from 1995 to 2005.PATIENTS AND METHODS:Data collected included demographic characteristics; clinical presentation; biochemical, microbiological and radiological findings; treatment modalities; and outcome.RESULTS:A total of 83 patients were diagnosed with LA, including 48 patients from Saudi Arabia and 35 patients from the UK. The mean (SD) age was 45.2 (20.3) years for those from Saudi Arabia and 55.4 (18.8) years for those from the UK (P=.022). The majority of the patients were males (70% from Saudi Arabia and 80% from the UK). Upper abdominal pain and fever were the commonest symptoms, each reported in 87% of the cases. Alkaline phosphatase elevation was the commonest liver function abnormality, seen in 66 (80%) patients. Organisms were isolated in 43 (52%) cases and the majority of these were coliforms (58%). Amebic liver abscesses occurred in 19 (23%) patients and all of those patients were either from or had traveled recently to the Indian subcontinent. Complete resolution of the abscesses was achieved in 66 (80%) patients with aspiration and/or antibiotics, and 9 (10.8%) patients died. On multivariate analysis, underlying malignancy, hypotension and chest signs at presentation were predictors of poor outcome (P=.008, .029 and .001, respectively).CONCLUSIONS:Successful resolution of LA is achievable in the majority of the cases, although underlying malignancy is associated with poor outcome. Amebic liver abscesses must be considered in patients with a history of travel to endemic areas.

ObjectiveClinical characteristics of patients with pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) of varying etiologies may be different. This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics, pathogenic bacteria, treatment, and prognosis of patients with PLA associated with diabetes and biliary disease.MethodsClinical, imaging, and laboratory data from 202 inpatients with PLA were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsEighty-eight patients (43.6%) had a history of diabetes, 73 (36.1%) had a history of underlying biliary tract disease, and 24 (11.9%) had both the diseases. The level of C-reactive protein (CRP) increased in 99.2% (119/120) patients, and the level of procalcitonin (PCT) increased in 95.5% (148/155) patients. The main pathogen of PLA was Klebsiella pneumoniae. The incidence of bloodstream infection increased by 34.4% (22/64) in patients with PLA that was associated with diabetes mellitus, and that of K. pneumoniae infection was 88.6% (39/44). The readmission rate for patients with PLA with underlying biliary diseases was 10.2 to 12.5%.ConclusionThe main pathogen of PLA is K. pneumoniae, which is sensitive to most antibiotics. Patients with PLA associated with diabetes were more likely to have bloodstream infections, and the recurrence rate of PLA with underlying biliary diseases was higher than without biliary duct disease.

Background and Aim: There is currently no consensus on antibiotic treatment for pyogenic liver abscess. This retrospective study intends to verify the equivalent effects between the step-up antimicrobial strategy and indiscriminate broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment for this disease. Methods: One hundred twenty-two consecutive patients with pyogenic liver abscess were retrospectively analyzed. In addition to abscess drainage, they were preferentially treated with a conservative regimen of parenteral antibiotics with cefazolin plus gentamicin at presentation. The mortality rate was compared with that of studies published in English-language medical literature. The complicated group, with mortality, metastatic infections, relapsed diseases, and involuntary surgeries, was compared with its contrary uncomplicated group to identify the risk factors for unfavorable clinical courses and outcomes. Results: The mortality rate was 10% (12/122), which was comparable to results documented in the English-language literature. There were 38 patients in the complicated group and 84 patients in the uncomplicated group. Seventy- three patients (60%) did not require modification of their cefazolin plus gentamicin regimen. Univariate analysis revealed that liver cirrhosis (OR=5.643, P=0.004), biliary disease (OR=3.440, P=0.006), pleural effusion (OR=3.556, P=0.003) and abscess rupture (OR=43.160, P=0.0001) were risk factors for complicated outcomes. Clinical jaundice (2.67±2.45 νs. 1.67±1.82 mg/dL, P=0.013) and anemia (11.6±2.43 νs. 12.53±1.88 g/dL, P=0.024) also reached the statistical significance. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that liver cirrhosis (P=0.004), abscess rupture (P=0.0001) and biliary disease (P=0.0001) were independent risk factors. Conclusion: Cefazolin plus gentamicin suffices for most patients with pyogenic liver abscess. Liver cirrhosis, biliary disease, and abscess rupture are independent risk factors for a complicated disease course.

Increased Incidence of Gastrointestinal Cancers Among Patients With Pyogenic Liver Abscess: A Population-Based Cohort Study

INTRODUCTION: Pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is due to leakage of intra-abdominal contents with hepatic spread via the portal circulation. The incidence of PLA is estimated to be 2.3 cases per 100,000 people with higher rates among men than women [1]. We present a case of a 58-year-old male with no abdominal tenderness, risk factors, or recent travel history, who was found to have a 3 cm liver abscess growing Klebsiella Pneumoniae (K.pneumoniae). CASE DESCRIPTION/METHODS: The patient is a 58-year-old African American man with a medical history of HTN and HLD who presented with 3-day history of muscle aches, subjective fevers, and chills. Initially the patient was suspected to have a flu and was treated with fluids and antipyretics. He was noted to have transaminitis (AST/ALT: 202/139), however denied nausea or abdominal pain. An ultrasound demonstrated a complex cystic mass in the right lobe of the liver, and a CT Abd/Pelvis showed a 3.2 × 3.1 × 2.3 cm heterogeneous hypodense mass in segment V. The patient remained febrile with a Tmax of 102 and began to develop severe RUQ on day two of admission. The patient was maintained on Zosyn 3.375g q6h and initial blood cultures grew gram negative rods. Patient tolerated IR drainage of liver abscess yielding 10cc pustular fluid with subsequent resolution of fever. Both blood and liver cultures grew pan-sensitive K.pneumoniae. DISCUSSION: PLA commonly develops as a complication of biliary tract disease in 40% of cases [2]. In the United States, K. pneumoniae is the predominant pathogen causing PLA; isolated in greater than 60% of monomicrobial and polymicrobial PLA [3]. Groups who are susceptible to infection with K. pneumoniae include patients of Asian ethnicity, diabetics, and those with antibiotic use [2]. Our patient did not have any risk factors for PLA; he had minimal medical history and only took amlodipine on presentation. Common symptoms of PLA include fever, right upper quadrant abdominal pain, and rarely jaundice [1]. Our patients' initial presentation was consistent with a flu like prodrome; however, his transaminitis suggested an underlying hepatic process. While a PLA was unlikely on admission, worsening sepsis and new abdominal pain elucidated the diagnosis. K. pneumoniae PLA can lead to disseminated infections including meningitis; the identification and drainage of an abscess early in the hospital course can alter a patients' mortality. While PLA is rare, it should still remain on the differential diagnosis for septic patients.

Background and Aim: Few systematic studies focus on the association between weight loss and pyogenic liver abscesses. The objective of the study was to assess the association between weight loss and pyogenic liver abscesses in adults in Taiwan.Methods: This population-based cohort study utilized the database of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program. Totally, 8453 subjects aged 20 to 84 years with newly diagnosed weight loss between 2000 and 2012 were assigned as the weight loss group, and 33777 randomly selected subjects without weight loss were assigned as the non-weight loss group. Both the weight loss and the non-weight loss groups were matched according to sex, age, and comorbidities. The incidence of pyogenic liver abscesses at the end of 2013 was measured in both groups.Results: A multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model was done and presented evidence that the adjusted HR of pyogenic liver abscess was 2.47 (95 %CI 1.21, 5.02) for those subjects with weight loss and without comorbidities, as compared with those subjects without weight loss and without comorbidities. Among the weight loss group, 5% developed pyogenic liver abscesses within 3 months.Conclusion: Weight loss is associated with pyogenic liver abscesses in adults. Yet weight loss might not be an early clinical symptom of undiagnosed pyogenic liver abscesses.

To investigate the age-sex-specific incidence and relative risk of pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and to assess the joint effects of T2DM and other clinical risk factors for PLA on PLA incidence. We used a population-based cohort design with Taiwan's National Health Insurance claim data. Study subjects included 613,921 T2DM patients and 614,613 controls identified in 2000 and were followed to the end of 2010. Cox regression model was employed to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of PLA in relation to T2DM. Over an 11-year follow-up, 5336 T2DM and 1850 controls were admitted for PLA, representing a cumulative incidence of 0.87% and 0.30%, respectively. T2DM was significantly associated with increased hazard of PLA (HR, 2.88; 95% CI, 2.73–3.04). We also found that age and gender may significantly modify the relationship between T2DM and PLA, with a higher HR noted in males patients and those aged <45 years. Biliary tract diseases (HR, 8.60; 95% CI, 7.87–9.40) and liver cirrhosis (HR, 7.52; 95% CI, 6.58–8.59) may add substantially additional risk to the incidence of PLA in T2DM patients. The increased risk of PLA in T2DM was greater in male and younger patients. Careful management of biliary tract diseases and liver cirrhosis may also help reduce the incidence of PLA in T2DM patients.

The global incidence of pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is increasing, but related reports of malignant tumor-related PLA are infrequent. Potential malignant tumors of PLA have been reported, but there is no relevant predictive model for this subsection of patients.To explore the risk factors of malignant tumor-related PLA.A retrospective analysis about a total of 881 patients who had been diagnosed with PLA from January 2005 to May 2018 was performed. The incidence of malignant tumor-related PLA in the study was 9.99% (88/881) out of all PLA cases. And that of potential malignant tumors with PLA was 4.65% (41/881). There were 62 patients with malignant tumor-related PLA in the observation group, while 146 cases without malignant tumor-related PLA were considered as control group. The data from 52 cases of malignant tumor and nonmalignant tumor-related PLA was verified.The malignant tumor type was mainly hepatobiliary malignant tumor, which occupies 72.3% (45/62) in all malignant tumor related PLA cases used to the model. Compared with nonmalignant tumor group, the rate of ineffective and mortality was higher in the malignant tumor group [19.4%(12/62) vs 7.5%(11/148), P = .01]. Multivariate analysis suggested that hepatobiliary interventional therapy or surgery, hepatitis B virus infection, multiple abscesses, portal embolism, and bile duct dilatation were independent risk factors for potential malignant tumors within the patients who combined with PLA.PLA could be considered as an early warning sign of potential malignant tumors. Malignant tumor-related PLA had a poor prognosis. Patients with PLA who have more than one independent risk factor or logit(P) > −1.694 may be considered as the high risk group for potential hepatobiliary or colorectal malignant tumors.

Profile of Amoebic vs Pyogenic Liver Abscess and Comparison of Demographical, Clinical, and Laboratory Profiles of these Patients From a Tertiary Care Center in Northern India

Pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is an important entity with a changing clinical spectrum and may be more prevalent than previously reported. PLA remains most common in older patients, although we found a trend in age range downward. In contrast to earlier reports, PLA affected male and female patients with equal frequency. The most common known cause of PLA remains biliary tract disease, but the majority of patients with PLA were those in whom no underlying cause of PLA could be identified. Single PLA was more common than multiple PLA regardless of etiology. The clinical presentation of patients with PLA ia nonspecific and emphasizes the fact that a high index of suspicion is often required to make the diagnosis. Jaundice and a markedly elevated alkaline phosphatase are clues to the possibility of biliary tract involvement, but may not distinguish patients with liver abscess from those with other hepatic processes. While plain chest and abdominal X-rays were often abnormal and may point to the right upper quadrant as a source of abnormality, ultrasound (US) and abdominal computed tomography (CT) play a central role in this disease. Not only are they often paramount in elucidating the diagnosis of PLA, but US and CT are critical because of their ability to provide other useful information that may address the cause of PLA (that is the biliary tract, and in the case of abdominal CT, other structures). Further, our data suggest that in patients without clinical or imaging evidence of biliary tract disease or pylephlebitis, aggressive random evaluation of the intestinal tract is unwarranted. Percutaneous drainage combined with intravenous antibiotics was the most common therapeutic modality and resulted in cure in 76% of all patients in which it was used (compared to 65% with antibiotics alone and 61% with surgery) and has been successful in 90% of patients over the last 5 years (n = 50). In this study, percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) appeared to result in a higher cure rate than percutaneous needle aspiration (PNA) but comparative studies are required to further address and determine their relative efficacies. Intravenous antibiotics alone are an important option in carefully selected patients. Surgical intervention as a primary mode of therapy has been almost completely replaced by less invasive approaches such as PCD/PNA, but remains an important consideration in patients who fail these therapies. Although PLA was once considered a fatal disease, the prognosis is now excellent. We have identified a subgroup of patients with no or low-level elevations in bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase and most often single right-sided PLA who do not have a readily identifiable cause of PLA (that is, cryptogenic), as having a particularly favorable prognosis. Death due to PLA is now limited primarily to those patients with severe underlying disease processes, including malignancy.

BackgroundPLA is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. However, its epidemiology and outcomes have not been recently evaluated in the CHZ. Understanding current trends will help guide management.MethodsIn this population-based study, we evaluated epidemiology, risk factors, and treatment of patients with PLA in the CHZ. CHZ residents aged ≥ 20 years diagnosed with PLA in 2015-2017 were included. Charts were reviewed for demographics and clinical outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with 30-day mortality. Findings were compared to a previous assessment of PLA in the CHZ from 1999-2003 (Kaplan et al., 2004).ResultsA total of 136 patients with PLA were identified, representing an annual incidence rate of 3.7 cases per 100,000 population. Compared to 1999-2003, incidence of PLA was increased (2.3 per 100,000; p< 0.01) but mortality was similar (1999-2003: 0.22 per 100,000 vs. 2015-2017: 0.26 per 100,000; p=0.6). The most common culprit organisms were Streptococcus anginosus group (40%), Klebsiella species (25%), Escherichia coli (18%), and obligate anaerobes (16%). Pathogen prevalence was similar to the prior cohort. Compared to 1999-2003, antibiotic resistant organisms were more frequent (8% vs 1%, p=0.04). In our cohort, liver aspirations were less frequent (p=0.02) but aspirate culture was more often positive (p< 0.01). The median duration of intravenous antibiotic therapy was longer compared to previous (2015-2017: 23 days (IQR 9-38) vs. 1999-2003: 17 days (IQR 10-29); p=0.001). Similarly, the total duration of antibiotic therapy was longer (2015-2017: 42 days (IQR 25-65) vs. 1999-2003: 31 days (IQR 18-45); p< 0.001). Thirty-day mortality from admission was 7% and did not differ amongst cohorts. Risk factors are shown in Table-1.Table-1: Risk factors for 30-day mortality in PLAConclusionIncidence of PLA in the CHZ is rising with more antimicrobial resistance. Diagnostic liver aspirations are less frequent. Antibiotic durations are longer with no reduction in mortality. Understanding changing trends is valuable in directing future care. Encouraging liver aspirations to obtain a microbiologic diagnosis, especially with increasing resistance, is crucial. Considering shorter antibiotic durations in light of stable mortality warrants further exploration.DisclosuresAll Authors: No reported disclosures