Primary prophylaxis for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is linked to antibiotic resistance in the Veterans Health Administration.

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a major cause of mortality. Although SBP primary prophylaxis (SBPPr) with fluoroquinolones and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) is often used, resistance could reduce its benefit. AIM: Analyze peritoneal fluid resistance patterns in patients with a first SBP episode with/without SBPPr using the Veterans Health Administration corporate data warehouse and to evaluate national antibiograms. Corporate data warehouse data were extracted using validated International Classification of Disease-9/10 codes, culture, resistance data, and outcomes of 7553 patients who developed their first inpatient SBP between 2009 and 2019 and compared between those with/without SBPPr. Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) and Klebsiella pneumoniae ( K. pneumoniae ) sensitivity to ciprofloxacin and TMP-SMX was calculated using 2021 Veterans Health Administration antibiogram data from all states. The most common isolates were E. coli , K. pneumoniae , and Staphylococcus species. Veterans taking ciprofloxacin SBBPr had higher fluoroquinolone resistance (34% vs 14% no SBPPr, p <0.0001); those taking TMP-SMX had higher TMP-SMX resistance (40% vs 14%, p <0.0001). SBPPr patients showed higher culture positivity, greater length of stay, higher second SBP, and higher probability of liver transplant rates versus no SBPPr. Multivariable models showed SBBPr to be the only variable associated with gram-negative resistance, and SBPPr was associated with a trend toward longer length of stay. E. coli ciprofloxacin sensitivity rates were 50%-87% and 43%-92% for TMP-SMX. K. pneumoniae ciprofloxacin sensitivity was 76%-100% and 72%-100% for TMP-SMX. CONCLUSION: Among patients who developed their first SBP episode, there was a higher prevalence of antibiotic resistance in those on SBPPr, with a high rate of fluoroquinolone resistance across the Veterans Health Administration sites.

Hospital Utilization for Patients With Cirrhosis and Severe Ascites in a Model of Outpatient Paracentesis by Interventional Radiology.

BACKGROUND:  Paracentesis is currently performed by interventional radiologists (IR) rather than gastroenterologists/hepatologists or internists. In this model of care, there is usually no evaluation of patients' renal function or adjustment of their medications at the time of paracentesis. The objectives of this study were to analyze hospital utilization and cirrhosis complications within six months of index outpatient paracentesis by IR and to identify potential areas of improvement in care. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of patients with cirrhosis and ascites who underwent outpatient paracentesis by IR between October 15, 2015, and October 15, 2018, at a tertiary academic medical center. We collected demographics, data on cirrhosis etiology/complications, laboratory tests, provider notes, outpatient paracentesis dates, emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, and ICU admissions within the following six months post index paracentesis. Associations between categorical predictors and clinical outcomes were analyzed using the chi-square test. Associations between quantitative predictors and clinical outcomes were analyzed using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. RESULTS: Our study included 69 unique patients who had at least one outpatient encounter for paracentesis by IR in the study period. Most patients were men (71%), had alcohol-related cirrhosis as primary etiology (53.6%), an average age of 60 years, and an average Model for End-Stage Liver Disease-sodium (MELDNa) score at baseline of 16. Within six months from index paracentesis, 44 patients (64.7%) underwent repeat IR outpatient paracentesis (total 187 paracenteses, 4.25 paracenteses/patient), 43 patients (62.3%) had ER visits (total 118 ER visits, 2.8/patient), 41 patients (59.4%) had hospital admissions (total 88 admissions, 2.2/patient), and 11 patients required ICU admission. Complications of cirrhosis noted during follow-up included hepatic encephalopathy (40.5%), acute kidney injury (38.2%), upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleeding (16%), and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in 15%. The mortality rate at six months was 20%. On multivariate analysis, the predictive factors for mortality were older age (p = 0.03) and MELDNa score (p = 0.02). Baseline MELDNa was predictive of acute kidney injury (p = 0.02), UGI bleed (p < 0.01), and ICU admission (p < 0.01), but not of SBP, encephalopathy, ED visit, or hospital admissions. Among patients with more than one paracentesis (64%),six patients underwent transjugular portosystemic shunt (TIPS), but there was no documentation of TIPS consideration in 31 patients (70.4%). A total of 20 patients (29%) were waitlisted for liver transplantation. CONCLUSION: In this contemporary cohort of patients with cirrhosis undergoing outpatient IR paracentesis, we found a high rate of short-term cirrhosis complications and hospital utilization, while TIPS consideration was very low. Further data are needed to identify specific gaps in care, but IR paracentesis should be integrated within a multidisciplinary management model, with emphasis on early TIPS in eligible patients, as recommended by the current practice guidelines.

Evaluation and Management of Esophageal and Gastric Varices in Patients with Cirrhosis.

Variceal bleeding is a complication of cirrhosis that defines decompensation. Important advances in the management of gastroesophageal varices have led to a significant decrease in the morbidity and mortality. Achieving these results in clinical practice is contingent on clinicians applying the best practice strategies and appropriate referral to a tertiary center. Several quality metrics were developed by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. This article aims to update outpatient and inpatient strategies to include the latest recommendations on variceal screening and surveillance, primary and secondary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding, and therapy for patients with acute variceal bleeding.

Pathophysiology of Hepatic Encephalopathy.

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is one of the major clinical decompensations of cirrhosis, with a high impact on health care resource utilization and cost. For an effective and comprehensive management of HE, the clinicians need to understand the pathophysiologic mechanisms of HE. This review describes the multiorgan processes involved in HE and how several HE precipitants and treatment strategies act on ammonia production, excretion, and neurotoxicity, including the impact of diabetes and use of cannabinoids. The authors also discuss the current and future role of gut microbiome, systemic/central inflammation, and various neurotransmitters for the pathogenesis and treatment of HE.

Use of model for end-stage liver disease exception points for early liver transplantation and successful reversal of hepatic myelopathy with a review of the literature.

Hepatic myelopathy (HM) is a rarely reported disorder characterized by progressive spastic paraparesis due to impaired corticospinal tract function in the setting of cirrhosis or portosystemic shunting. HM has not to date been recognized as a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) exception for transplantation. Outcomes for a small number of patients from Europe and Asia who have undergone liver transplantation (LT) for HM suggest a potential neurological benefit, especially with earlier transplantation. We report the first use of MELD exception points for the condition of HM to enable early LT resulting in the reversal of marked spastic paraparesis. Our patient, whose myelopathy had markedly progressed without further hepatic decompensation, underwent LT 14 months after the diagnosis of HM with an adjusted MELD score of 30, which was granted as a United Network for Organ Sharing exception. After LT, there was significant neurological improvement as the patient progressed from wheelchair dependency to full ambulation. We reviewed the literature of other HM patients who had undergone LT. With our patient, there were in all 15 reported cases of LT in individuals with HM. LT can lead to a marked improvement in HM, particularly in the earlier clinical stages of the disorder. Early LT can be accomplished, as in our case, by the submission of an appeal for a MELD upgrade.