Clinical characteristics and prognostic impact of bacterial infection in hospitalized patients with alcoholic liver disease

Evaluation of the Prognostic Value of Existing Scoring Systems for Nosocomial Infection in Patients with Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

Many scoring systems have been developed to evaluate the severity and survival of end-stage liver disorder patients. However, the conduction of these different predicting models has not been thoroughly verified in cirrhotic patients with nosocomial infections. This study ended to compare the predictive accuracy of various scoring systems.

METHODS

During January 2015 and January 2020, liver cirrhosis patients with nosocomial infections were involved in this study. The clinical data, laboratory findings, and demographic characteristics of patients were collected during diagnosis. Patients were followed up for at least 6 months or till death.

RESULTS

One hundred thirty-one patients meeting the criteria were enrolled and followed up for at least 6 months. The mortality rate at 30 days, 3 months, and 6 months was 23%, 35.1%, and 39.6%, respectively. The univariate analysis showed that all scoring systems indicated statistical significance between the surviving group and the non-surviving group at 6 months. Model for end-stage liver disease-Na showed excellent predictive accuracy in predicting the survival at 30 days, 3 months, 6 months, with the area under the curve of 0.807, 0.850, and 0.844, respectively. Model for end-stage liver disease-Na demonstrated sensitivities of more than 85%. In contrast, the child-turcotte-pugh and albumin-bilirubin scores showed a poorer predictive capability.

CONCLUSION

All 5 models for end-stage liver disease-related scores (model for end-stage liver disease, model for end-stage liver diseaseto-serum sodium ratio, model for end-stage liver disease-Na, model for end-stage liver disease-Delta, snd integrated model for endstage liver disease) exhibited a reliable prediction for mortality of long-term prognosis and short-term prognosis of cirrhotic patients with nosocomial infections. Among them, the model for end-stage liver disease-Na score might be the best choice.

Complement System in Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease

Innate immunity contributes effectively to the development of Alcohol-Associated liver disease (ALD). Particularly, human studies and murine models of ALD have shown that Complement activation plays an important role during the initial and later stages of ALD. The Complement System may contribute to the pathogenesis of this disease since it has been shown that ethanol-derived metabolic products activate the Complement cascade on liver membranes, leading to hepatocellular damage. However, studies evaluating the plasma levels of Complement proteins in ALD patients present contradictory results in some cases, and do not establish a well-marked role for each Complement component. The impairment of leukocyte chemoattractant activity observed in these patients may contribute to the susceptibility to bacterial infections in the latter stages of the disease. On the other hand, murine models of ALD have provided more detailed insights into the mechanisms that link the Complement System to the pathogenesis of the disease. It has been observed that Classical pathway can be activated via C1q binding to apoptotic cells in the liver and contributes to the development of hepatic inflammation. C3 contributes to the accumulation of triglycerides in the liver and in adipose tissue, while C5 seems to be involved with inflammation and liver injury after chronic ethanol consumption. In this review, we present a compendium of studies evaluating the role of Complement in human and murine models of ALD. We also discuss potential therapies to human ALD, highlighting the use of Complement inhibitors.

Management of infections in patients with cirrhosis in the context of increasing therapeutic resistance: A systematic review

Patients with cirrhosis are prone to develop bacterial infections, which consist in one of the major precursors of Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure (ACLF) and are responsible for a high mortality rate. In recent years, the management of bacterial infections in patients with cirrhosis has become increasingly complicated due to a change in bacterial ecology associated with a higher rate of cocci gram positive bacteria in Europe and America along with the emergence of a multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) bacteria leading to a decrease in the efficacy of empirical strategies based on the administration of third-generation cephalosporins. MDR and XDR now account for about 40% of the infections worldwide, and up to 70% in India. Among them, the most common ones are extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing (ESBL-P) bacteria, carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). An early diagnosis associated to an empirical antibiotic adapted to the site of infection and potential bacterial resistance is now crucial in order to improve the chances of survival and contain the resistance phenomenon. Moreover, a fungal infection must always be discussed in these high-risks patients, especially in the absence of clinical improvement under appropriate antibiotic treatment. In this review, we will focus on the emerging threat of MDR and XDR organisms, as well as fungal infections, in order to better adapt the therapeutic management of cirrhotic patients with infections.

Chronic Alcoholic Liver Disease and Mortality Risk in Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis: Analysis of 6,530 Hospitalizations

Objective

Our study aimed to assess the risk of in-hospital mortality due to chronic alcoholic liver disease (CALD) and other comorbidities in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) inpatients.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS, 2012 to 2014) from the United States and included 6,530 patients (age 18-50 years) with a primary diagnosis of SBP. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the odds ratio (OR) for in-hospital mortality in SBP by comorbidities.

Results

The prevalence of CALD in SBP patients is 43.6%, and a higher proportion were males (68.8%) and whites (67%). Middle-aged adults (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.74-4.45) had higher odds of in-hospital mortality in SBP patients. Race and sex were non-significant predictors for mortality risk. Patients with comorbid coagulopathy (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.45-2.48) and heart failure (OR 3.9, 95% CI 2.46-6.36) have increased mortality in SBP inpatients. After controlling confounders, CALD was significantly associated with increased in-hospital mortality (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.12-1.94) in SBP inpatients.

Conclusion

CALD is an independent factor in increasing the risk of in-hospital mortality in SBP patients by 48%. Alcohol use screening, and alcohol abstinence and supportive therapy need to be implemented at an earlier stage to improve health-related quality of life and reduce in-hospital mortality in SBP patients.

Alcohol Consumption Influences Clinical Outcome in Patients Admitted to a Referral Center for Liver Disease

INTRODUCTION AND AIM

Excessive alcohol consumption is a public health concern worldwide and has been associated with high mortality rates. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of alcohol consumption and its influence on the prognosis of hospitalized cirrhotic patients in a tertiary care hospital.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We reviewed the medical records of all patients with hepatic cirrosis admitted between January 2009 and December 2014, in a referral center for liver disease in southern Brazil. Data on clinical outcomes, associated conditions, infections, and mortality were collected and compared between alcoholic and nonalcoholic patients.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of 388 patients; 259 (66.7%) were men. One hundred fifty-two (39.2%) were classified as heavy use of alcohol. Most alcoholic patients were men (n = 144; 94.7%). Mean age was 55.6 ± 8.9 years. Hepatic decompensations and infections were more prevalent in alcoholic patient. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and respiratory tract infection accounted for most of the infections. Excessive alcohol consumption was associated with mortality (P = 0.009) in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

On the present study, the prevalence of heavy use of alcohol was high and associated with a poorer prognosis in hospitalized cirrhotic patients, increasing the risk of infection and death.

Opportunistic infections in end stage liver disease

Liver cirrhosis is the 10th most common cause of death in Western world and infection is associated with a high morbidity and mortality, and represents the leading cause of acute liver decompensation. Patients with end-stage liver disease exhibit an important impairment of immune system. This condition, called cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction, summarizes both local and systemic immune system alterations in liver cirrhosis that play a pivotal role in determining both the high incidence of infections and the ominous infections related mortality in this population. Another concerning feature of infections in cirrhotic patients is the growing prevalence of multidrug- resistant or extensively drug-resistant pathogens, which are associated with higher mortality, increased length of in-hospital stay and higher healthcare related costs if compared with infection caused by susceptible strains. Finally, patient with liver cirrhosis have several unique pathophysiological characteristics including hypoalbuminemia and reduction binding to proteins; altered distribution; altered clearance of the antimicrobials that can affect the pharmacokinetic/ pharmacodynamic of antimicrobials.

Bacterial Infection and Predictors of Mortality in Patients with Autoimmune Liver Disease-Associated Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure

OBJECTIVE

To date, few studies are available on autoimmune liver disease-associated acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). The aim of this study is to investigate bacterial infection and predictors of mortality in these patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied patients with autoimmune liver disease from August 2012 to August 2017. Clinical data of the patients were retrieved for analysis.

RESULTS

There were 53 ACLF patients and 53 patients without ACLF in this study. The ACLF group had a higher prevalence of complications (P < 0.05). The 28-day and 90-day mortality rates were also obviously high in patients with ACLF (38.3% and 74.5%, resp.) (P < 0.05). No predictor was significantly associated with 28-day and 90-day transplant-free mortality. In 53ACLF patients, 40 (75.5%) patients showed bacterial infection. ACLF patients with bacterial infection showed high Child-Pugh score, MELD score, CLIF-SOFA score, 28-day mortality, and 90-day mortality (P > 0.05). Moreover, C-reactive protein (CRP) using 12.15 mg/L cut-off value proved to be more accurate than procalcitonin in identifying patients with infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Autoimmune liver disease-associated ACLF showed more complications and high mortality. Bacterial infection patients displayed a more severe condition than those without infection. Elevated CRP is an accurate marker for diagnosing bacterial infection in autoimmune liver disease-associated ACLF patients.

Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of liver cirrhosis patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome

AIM

Our objective is to study the clinical characteristics of cirrhosis patients with SIRS and investigate its prognostic factors.

METHODS

We analyzed 285 consecutive patients and their data were evaluated retrospectively. Data were compared in patients with/without SIRS during hospitalization. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were undertaken separately for cirrhotic patients with SIRS to assess predictive factors for 90-day mortality.

RESULTS

The mortality was 38.24% (52/136) in patients with SIRS and 6.04% (9/149) in patients without SIRS for 90-day follow-up (P < 0.001). The univariate analysis showed gastrointestinal hemorrhage (P < 0.001), hepatic encephalopathy (P < 0.001), albumin <30 g/L (P < 0.037), creatinine (Cr) >175 µmol/L (P < 0.001), cholinesterase(ChE) activity <3000 U/L (P = 0.019), white blood cell count ≥10 000 (109/L) (P = 0.018), neutrophils ≥80% (P = 0.018), C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥25 mg/L (P < 0.001), procalcitonin ≥1.0 ng/mL (P = 0.007), Child-Pugh class C (P < 0.001), septicemia (P < 0.001), pulmonary infection (P < 0.001),multi-site infection (P = 0.001), acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) (P < 0.001), and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, only Cr ≥175 µmol/L (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.768; confidence interval [CI], 1.53-5.04; P = 0.001), C-reactive protein ≥25 mg/L (HR = 3.179; CI, 1.772-7.03; P = 0.004), multi-site infection (HR = 19.427; CI, 7.484-50.431; P < 0.001), ACLF (HR = 7.308; CI, 3.048-17.521; P < 0.001), advanced HCC (HR = 2.523; CI, 1.019-6.248; P = 0.045) were independent predictors of 90-day mortality in cirrhotic patients with SIRS.

CONCLUSION

Cr ≥ 175 µmol/L, CRP ≥ 25 mg/L, multi-site infection, ACLF, and advanced HCC independently predicted a higher rate of 90-day mortality in liver cirrhosis with SIRS.

Presepsin teardown - pitfalls of biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of bacterial infection in cirrhosis

AIM

To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of presepsin in cirrhosis-associated bacterial infections.

METHODS

Two hundred and sixteen patients with cirrhosis were enrolled. At admission, the presence of bacterial infections and level of plasma presepsin, serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) were evaluated. Patients were followed for three months to assess the possible association between presepsin level and short-term mortality.

RESULTS

Present 34.7 of patients had bacterial infection. Presepsin levels were significantly higher in patients with infection than without (median, 1002 pg/mL vs 477 pg/mL, P < 0.001), increasing with the severity of infection [organ failure (OF): Yes vs No, 2358 pg/mL vs 710 pg/mL, P < 0.001]. Diagnostic accuracy of presepsin for severe infections was similar to PCT and superior to CRP (AUC-ROC: 0.85, 0.85 and 0.66, respectively, P = NS for presepsin vs PCT and P < 0.01 for presepsin vs CRP). At the optimal cut-off value of presepsin > 1206 pg/mL sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values and negative predictive values were as follows: 87.5%, 74.5%, 61.8% and 92.7%. The accuracy of presepsin, however, decreased in advanced stage of the disease or in the presence of renal failure, most probably because of the significantly elevated presepsin levels in non-infected patients. 28-d mortality rate was higher among patients with > 1277 pg/mL compared to those with ≤ 1277 pg/mL (46.9% vs 11.6%, P < 0.001). In a binary logistic regression analysis, however, only PCT (OR = 1.81, 95%CI: 1.09-3.01, P = 0.022) but neither presepsin nor CRP were independent risk factor for 28-d mortality after adjusting with MELD score and leukocyte count.

CONCLUSION

Presepsin is a valuable new biomarker for defining severe infections in cirrhosis, proving same efficacy as PCT. However, it is not a useful marker of short-term mortality.

Incidence, survival and cause-specific mortality in alcoholic liver disease: a population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVE

We studied the incidence of severe ALD requiring hospitalization in Finland, and survival and causes of death among the ALD patients.

METHODS

A cohort of 11,873 persons (8796 men and 3077 women) with diagnosis of ALD during the years 1996-2012 was identified from Finnish national Inpatient Register. The annual incidence of alcoholic hepatitis (AH) and alcoholic liver cirrhosis was calculated. The cohort was combined with the data from national Cause of Death Register of Statistics Finland.

RESULTS

The incidence of alcoholic liver cirrhosis increased from 8.8/100,000 in year 2001 to 14.6/100,000 in year 2012 among men and from 2.4 to 4.2/100,000 among women. The incidence of AH increased from 3.7 to 6.5/100,000 among men and from 1.3 to 2.7/100,000 among women. The relative 5-year survival ratios of patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and AH were 29 and 50% among men and 38 and 52% among women, respectively. Out of 8440 deaths, 65% were due to alcoholic-related causes. The risk of death among ALD patients was increased in malignancies (SMR 6.82; 95% CI: 6.35-7.29), cardiovascular diseases (6.13; 5.74-6.52), respiratory diseases (7.86; 6.70-9.10), dementia (3.31; 2.41-4.44) and accidents and violence (11.12; 10.13-12.15).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of AH and alcoholic liver cirrhosis is increasing. The survival is poor. Most deaths are alcohol-related and other common causes of excess deaths are cancers especially in the upper aerodigestive tract and cardiovascular, digestive and respiratory diseases as well as violence and accidents.