Systematic review of the role of calprotectin in cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Calprotectin is a calcium-binding-S100-protein synthetized mainly in neutrophils which has been demonstrated to be an accurate biomarker of the presence of these cells. Gut barrier dysfunction in patients with advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD), in addition to the lack of noninvasive tools for diagnosis and prognosis of cirrhosis decompensations, has raised interest in this biomarker. AIMS: Our aim is to summarize the current evidence regarding the role of calprotectin in terms of its diagnostic and prognostic utility in ACLD. METHODS: We performed a systematic search (PROSPERO registration no. CRD42023389069) of original articles published without any restrictions on the publication date until January 2023 providing information about calprotectin for the prognosis or diagnosis of ACLD and its decompensations in adult patients. RESULTS: A total 227 articles were identified, and 26 observational studies finally met the inclusion criteria. In 14 studies, calprotectin was measured in ascitic fluid, all of which reported higher calprotectin values in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, while cut-off points for its diagnosis were proposed in nine studies. Three studies reported higher faecal calprotectin levels in patients with hepatic encephalopathy and portal hypertension. Four studies evaluated faecal calprotectin and one plasma calprotectin as biomarkers for gut barrier integrity and bacterial translocation. CONCLUSIONS: Calprotectin is emerging as a promising biomarker in ACLD, particularly for the management of bacterial infections and alcohol-related liver disease. Further research with better study designs should help to determine the feasibility of calprotectin measurement in routine clinical practice.

LINAS-Score: prognostic model for mortality assessment in patients with cirrhotic liver and infected ascites.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Patients with liver cirrhosis often face a grave threat from infected ascites (IA). However, a well-established prognostic model for this complication has not been established in routine clinical practice. Therefore, we aimed to assess mortality risk in patients with liver cirrhosis and IA. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study across three tertiary hospitals, enrolling 534 adult patients with cirrhotic liver and IA, comprising 465 with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), 34 with bacterascites (BA), and 35 with secondary peritonitis (SP). To determine the attributable mortality risk linked to IA, these patients were matched with 122 patients with hydropic decompensated liver cirrhosis but without IA. Clinical, laboratory, and microbiological parameters were assessed for their relation to mortality using univariable analyses and a multivariable random forest model (RFM). Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) regression model was used to establish an easy-to-use mortality prediction score. RESULTS: The in-hospital mortality risk was highest for SP (39.0%), followed by SBP (26.0%) and BA (25.0%). Besides illness severity markers, microbiological parameters, such as Candida spp., were identified as the most significant indicators for mortality. The Lasso model determined 15 parameters with corresponding scores, yielding good discriminatory power (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve = 0.89). Counting from 0 to 83, scores of 20, 40, 60, and 80 corresponded to in-hospital mortalities of 3.3%, 30.8%, 85.2%, and 98.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: We developed a promising mortality prediction score for IA, highlighting the importance of microbiological parameters in conjunction with illness severity for assessing patient outcomes.

Proton Pump Inhibitors in Patients with Cirrhosis: Pharmacokinetics, Benefits and Drawbacks.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review explores the pharmacokinetics, benefits, and risks of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in cirrhotic patients, focusing on the appropriateness of their use and potential adverse effects. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies highlight significant pharmacokinetic alterations in PPIs among cirrhotic patients, with marked increases in lansoprazole and pantoprazole exposure and relatively stable levels of esomeprazole. While effective for managing acid-related disorders and post-band ulcer rebleeding, evidence supporting PPI use for portal hypertension-related bleeding is lacking. Emerging research suggests potential adverse effects such as hepatic decompensation, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatic encephalopathy, and increased mortality, possibly linked to dysbiosis and bacterial translocation. PPI use in cirrhotic patients alters pharmacokinetics significantly, with esomeprazole potentially safer in advanced cirrhosis. The review advises caution in routine PPI use beyond acid-related conditions due to limited evidence and substantial risks. It underscores the need for careful risk-benefit assessments and exploration of alternative therapies. Future research should aim to identify safer management strategies for portal hypertension complications and to develop evidence-based guidelines for PPI use in patients with cirrhosis.

Risks of Proton Pump Inhibitors in Patients with Cirrhosis: Please Peruse the Indications.

The use of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) in cirrhotic patients can be associated with increased risks of long-term mortality, decompensation, hepatic encephalopathy, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and infection, but not with short-term mortality. Ensure clear indications at lowest effective dose of is mandatory for the use of PPI among cirrhotic patients.

Diagnostic Paracentesis Within 1 Day Is Associated With Reduced Mortality and Length of Hospital Stay in Patients with Cirrhosis and Ascites.

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is the most common infection in patients with cirrhosis and is associated with high mortality. Although recent literature reports mortality benefits to early diagnostic paracentesis, current guidelines do not offer specific recommendations for how quickly diagnostic paracentesis should be performed in patients with cirrhosis and ascites who are admitted to the hospital. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate outcomes among patients admitted to the hospital with cirrhosis and ascites receiving paracentesis within ≤ 12, ≤ 1 day, and > 1 day. Eight studies with 116,174 patients were included in the final meta-analysis. The pooled risk of in-hospital mortality was significantly lower in patients who underwent early (≤ 12 h or ≤ 1 day) compared to delayed (> 12 h or > 1 day) paracentesis (RR: 0.69, p < 0.00001), and in patients who underwent paracentesis compared to no paracentesis (RR: 0.74, p < 0.00001). On subgroup analysis, in-hospital mortality was significantly lower in both paracentesis within ≤ 12 h (RR: 0.61, p = 0.02) vs. > 12 h, and within ≤ 1 day (RR: 0.70, p < 0.00001) vs. > 1 day. While there was a trend towards decreased mortality in those undergoing paracentesis within ≤ 12 h compared to ≤ 1 day, the difference did not reach statistical significance. The length of hospital stay was significantly shorter by 5.38 days in patients who underwent early (≤ 12 h) compared to delayed (> 12 h) paracentesis (95% CI 4.24-6.52, p < 0.00001). Early paracentesis is associated with reduced mortality and length of hospital stay. We encourage providers to perform diagnostic paracentesis in a timely manner, at least within 1 day of hospital admission, for all patients with cirrhosis and ascites.

Human Amniotic MSC Response in LPS-Stimulated Ascites from Patients with Cirrhosis: FOXO1 Gene and Th17 Activation in Enhanced Antibacterial Activation.

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a severe complication in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis and is commonly treated with broad spectrum antibiotics. However, the rise of antibiotic resistance requires alternative therapeutic strategies. As recently shown, human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hA-MSCs) are able, in vitro, to promote bacterial clearance and modulate the immune and inflammatory response in SBP. Our results highlight the upregulation of FOXO1, CXCL5, CXCL6, CCL20, and MAPK13 in hA-MSCs as well as the promotion of bacterial clearance, prompting a shift in the immune response toward a Th17 lymphocyte phenotype after 72 h treatment. In this study, we used an in vitro SBP model and employed omics techniques (next-generation sequencing) to investigate the mechanisms by which hA-MSCs modify the crosstalk between immune cells in LPS-stimulated ascitic fluid. We also validated the data obtained via qRT-PCR, cytofluorimetric analysis, and Luminex assay. These findings provide further support to the hope of using hA-MSCs for the prevention and treatment of infective diseases, such as SBP, offering a viable alternative to antibiotic therapy.

Role of Systemic Immune Inflammation Index, Systemic Immune Response Index, Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet Lymphocyte Ratio in Predicting Peritoneal Culture Positivity and Prognosis in Cases of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis Admitted to the Emergency Department.

Background and Objectives: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a life-threatening disease that requires early diagnosis and treatment. It is known that a positive culture result for SBP, which is a common reason for admission to the emergency department, is related to the severity and prognosis of the disease. However, as it is not possible to determine the culture result in the early stage of the disease, different methods are required to predict prognosis in the emergency department. This study was conducted to evaluate the success of the SII, SIRI, NLR and PLR in predicting culture results, intensive care needs and mortality in patients with SBP admitted to the emergency department. Materials and Methods: This study was a retrospective, observational study. Patients with SBP who applied to the emergency department were included in this study. Pregnant women, patients with a malignancy, patients with another infection and patients with liver failure were excluded from this study. Data were analyzed in terms of culture results, the need for intensive care and mortality development. Analyses were performed using SPSS version 26. Results are presented with a 95% confidence interval. A p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Participant data were analyzed using the independent samples t-test or the Mann-Whitney U test based on normality, and ROC analyses were conducted to assess test accuracies and determine cut-off values. Results: A total of 275 patients were included in this study. Although the culture results of 183 patients were positive, 92 were negative. The SII, NLR and PLR were found to be significantly higher in culture-positive patients (p < 0.001, p = 0.013 and p = 0.002, respectively). The SII and NLR were found to be significantly higher in patients with high mortality (p < 0.001 and p = 0.017, respectively). Conclusions: This study showed that the SII, NLR and PLR may be useful in predicting culture positivity and prognosis in SBP patients in the emergency department.

16S rRNA Next-Generation Sequencing May Not Be Useful for Examining Suspected Cases of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis.

Background and Objectives: Ascites, often associated with liver cirrhosis, poses diagnostic challenges, particularly in detecting bacterial infections. Traditional methods have limitations, prompting the exploration of advanced techniques such as 16S rDNA next-generation sequencing (NGS) for improved diagnostics in such low-biomass fluids. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the NGS method enhances detection sensitivity compared to a conventional ascites culture. Additionally, we aimed to explore the presence of a microbiome in the abdominal cavity and determine whether it has a sterile condition. Materials and Methods: Ten patients with clinically suspected spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) were included in this study. A traditional ascites culture was performed, and all ascites samples were subjected to 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplification and sequencing. 16S rRNA gene sequencing results were interpreted by comparing them to positive and negative controls for each sample. Results: Differential centrifugation was applied to all ascites samples, resulting in very small or no bacterial pellets being harvested. The examination of the 16S amplicon sequencing libraries indicated that the target amplicon products were either minimally visible or exhibited lower intensity than their corresponding negative controls. Contaminants present in the reagents were also identified in the ascites samples. Sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of all samples showed microbial compositions that were akin to those found in the negative controls, without any bacteria isolated that were unique to the samples. Conclusions: The peritoneal cavity and ascites exhibit low bacterial biomass even in the presence of SBP, resulting in a very low positivity rate in 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Hence, the 16S RNA sequencing method does little to enhance the rate of positive samples compared to traditional culture methods, including in SBP cases.

Peritoneal Dialysis-Associated Peritonitis Trends Using Medicare Claims Data, 2013-2017.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: The occurrence and consequences of peritoneal dialysis (PD)-associated peritonitis limit its use in populations with kidney failure. Studies of large clinical populations may enhance our understanding of peritonitis. To facilitate these studies we developed an approach to measuring peritonitis rates using Medicare claims data to characterize peritonitis trends and identify its clinical risk factors. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of PD-associated peritonitis. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: US Renal Data System standard analysis files were used for claims, eligibility, modality, and demographic information. The sample consisted of patients receiving PD treated at some time between 2013 and 2017 who were covered by Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) insurance with paid claims for dialysis or hospital services. EXPOSURES/PREDICTORS: Peritonitis risk was characterized by year, age, sex, race, ethnicity, vintage of kidney replacement therapy, cause of kidney failure, and prior peritonitis episodes. OUTCOME: The major outcome was peritonitis, identified using ICD-9 and ICD-10 diagnosis codes. Closely spaced peritonitis claims (30 days) were aggregated into 1 peritonitis episode. ANALYTICAL APPROACH: Patient-level risk factors for peritonitis were modeled using Poisson regression. RESULTS: We identified 70,271 peritonitis episodes from 396,289 peritonitis claims. Although various codes were used to record an episode of peritonitis, none was used predominantly. Peritonitis episodes were often identified by multiple aggregated claims, with the mean and median claims per episode being 5.6 and 2, respectively. We found 40% of episodes were exclusively outpatient, 9% exclusively inpatient, and 16% were exclusively based on codes that do not clearly distinguish peritonitis from catheter infections/inflammation ("catheter codes"). The overall peritonitis rate was 0.54 episodes per patient-year (EPPY). The rate was 0.45 EPPY after excluding catheter codes and 0.35 EPPY when limited to episodes that only included claims from nephrologists or dialysis providers. The peritonitis rate declined by 5%/year and varied by patient factors including age (lower rates at higher ages), race (Black > White>Asian), and prior peritonitis episodes (higher rate with each prior episode). LIMITATIONS: Coding heterogeneity indicates a lack of standardization. Episodes based exclusively on catheter codes could represent false positives. Peritonitis episodes were not validated against symptoms or microbiologic data. CONCLUSIONS: PD-associated peritonitis rates decline over time and were lower among older patients. A claims-based approach offers a promising framework for the study of PD-associated peritonitis.

Norfloxacin prophylaxis effect on multidrug resistance in patients with cirrhosis and bacterial infections.

It is unclear whether norfloxacin predisposes to infections by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). We aimed to evaluate if patients with cirrhosis receiving norfloxacin prophylaxis at the time of the diagnosis of bacterial infections were more likely to present a multidrug-resistant isolate than those without prophylaxis. This is a cross-sectional study of hospitalized patients with cirrhosis and bacterial infections from Argentina and Uruguay (NCT03919032) from September 2018 to December 2020. The outcome variable was a multidrug-resistant bacterial infection. We used inverse probability of treatment weighting to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of norfloxacin on infection caused by MDROs considering potential confounders. Among the 472 patients from 28 centers, 53 (11%) were receiving norfloxacin at the time of the bacterial infection. Patients receiving norfloxacin had higher MELD-sodium, were more likely to have ascites or encephalopathy, to receive rifaximin, beta-blockers, and proton-pump inhibitors, to have a nosocomial or health-care-associated infection, prior bacterial infections, admissions to critical care units or invasive procedures, and to be admitted in a liver transplant center. In addition, we found that 13 (24.5%) patients with norfloxacin and 90 (21.5%) of those not receiving it presented infections caused by MDROs (adjusted OR 1.55; 95% CI: 0.60-4.03; p = 0.360). The use of norfloxacin prophylaxis at the time of the diagnosis of bacterial infections was not associated with multidrug resistance. These results help empiric antibiotic selection and reassure the current indication of norfloxacin prophylaxis in well-selected patients.Study registration number: NCT03919032.

Validation of a new simple scoring system to predict spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in patients with cirrhosis and ascites.

BACKGROUND: Recently, a simple scoring system named the Mansoura scoring system was developed to predict spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in patients with cirrhosis and ascites. However, the efficacy of this newly developed system has not been extensively investigated. We aimed to validate a new simple scoring system for the rapid diagnosis or exclusion of SBP without paracentesis. METHODS: Adult patients with cirrhosis and ascites admitted to Cho Ray Hospital between November 2021 and May 2022 were included. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve of the Mansoura simple scoring system for predicting SBP was calculated using the Stata software. Other independent laboratory tests for predicting SBP (C-reactive protein [CRP], neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [NLR], and mean platelet volume [MPV]) were assessed and compared using the Mansoura scoring system. RESULTS: A total of 121 patients were included in this study. The Mansoura scoring system showed good performance in predicting SBP in patients with cirrhosis and ascites (AUROC:0.89). At the cut-off ≥ 4 points, the scoring system achieved a specificity of 97.7% with a positive predictive value for the diagnosis of SBP of 93.5%. Multivariate analysis was performed using our data and showed that NLR, CRP level, and MPV were independent factors related to SBP. CONCLUSION: The Mansoura scoring system demonstrated good performance in predicting SBP in patients with cirrhosis and ascites and may help guide management decisions.

Norfloxacin versus alternative antibiotics for prophylaxis of spontaneous bacteria peritonitis in cirrhosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a life-threatening complication in patients with advanced cirrhosis. Prophylactic Norfloxacin used to be considered effective in SBP prevention, but in recent years its efficacy has been partially compromised by increasing quinolone-resistant bacteria. However, whether the effects of alternative prophylactic regimens are superior to norfloxacin remains controversial. The goal of this study is to compare the effects of norfloxacin with other antibiotics in SBP prophylaxis for cirrhotic patients. METHODS: We systematically searched Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane Library Databases. Two reviewers independently identified relevant random control trials (RCTs) comparing the role of norfloxacin and other antibiotics in SBP prevention. RESULTS: Eight studies comprising 1043 cirrhotic patients were included in this study. Norfloxacin and alternative antibiotics displayed comparable effects in SBP prophylaxis, survival benefit, overall infection prevention, and safety. Subgroup analyses revealed that rifaximin prophylaxis could reduce the recurrence of SBP with fewer adverse events but failed to improve overall survival compared with norfloxacin. CONCLUSIONS: Other antibiotics are a reasonable alternative to norfloxacin in the prophylaxis of SBP. Rifaximin prophylaxis could be an alternative choose of antibiotic for SBP prevention because of its better protective effect and safety.

Systematically analysis of decompensated cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis to identify diagnostic and prognostic indexes.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a common complication in patients with cirrhosis. The diagnosis of SBP is still mostly based on ascites cultures and absolute ascites polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell count, which restricts the widely application in clinical settings. This study aimed to identify reliable and easy-to-use biomarkers for both diagnosis and prognosis of cirrhotic patients with SBP. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study including 413 cirrhotic patients from March 2013 to July 2022 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University. Patients' clinical characteristics and laboratory indices were collected and analyzed. Two machine learning methods (Xgboost and LASSO algorithms) and a logistic regression analysis were adopted to screen and validate the indices associated with the risk of SBP. A predictive model was constructed and validated using the estimated area under curve (AUC). The indices related to the survival of cirrhotic patients were also analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 413 cirrhotic patients were enrolled in the study, of whom 329 were decompensated and 84 were compensated. 52 patients complicated and patients with SBP had a poorer Child-Pugh score (P < 0.05). Patients with SBP had a greater proportion of malignancies than those without SBP(P < 0.05). The majority of laboratory test indicators differed significantly between patients with and without SBP (P < 0.05). Albumin, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and ferritin-to-neutrophil ratio (FNR) were found to be independently associated with SBP in decompensated cirrhotic patients using LASSO algorithms, and logistic regression analysis. The model established by the three indices showed a high predictive value with an AUC of 0.808. Furthermore, increased neutrophils, ALP, and C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR) were associated with the shorter survival time of patients with decompensated cirrhosis, and the combination of these indices showed a greater predictive value for cirrhotic patients. CONCLUSIONS: The present study identified FNR as a novel index in the diagnosis of SBP in decompensated patients with cirrhosis. A model based on neutrophils, ALP and CAR showed high performance in predicting the prognosis of patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

Type of Infection Is Associated with Prognosis in Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure: A National Veterans Health Administration Study.

BACKGROUND: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a syndrome in patients with cirrhosis with high short-term mortality. Infection is a frequent precipitant of ACLF; however, it is unclear if prognosis varies by difference infectious sources. To address this knowledge gap, we utilized a large national database of patients with cirrhosis. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with cirrhosis in the Veterans Health Administration between 2008 and 2016. First ACLF hospitalizations were identified and infections were classified using validated algorithms, categorized as bacteremia, fungal, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), pyelonephritis/urinary tract infection, or skin and soft tissue/musculoskeletal infection (SST/MSK). Inverse probability treatment weighing for infection-associated ACLF followed by multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between infection type and 90-day mortality. RESULTS: A total 22,589 ACLF hospitalizations were included, 3998 (17.7%) of which had ACLF grade 3. Infection was associated with 12,405 (54.9%) of ACLF hospitalizations. In regression models, SBP was associated with a 1.79-fold increased odds of 90-day mortality vs. no infection (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.58-2.02, p < 0.001), whereas SST/MSK infections had a lower relative odds of mortality (odds ratio 0.48, 95% CI 0.42-0.53, p < 0.001). There was a significant interaction between infection category and ACLF grade on the outcome of 90-day mortality (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The impact of infection on short-term mortality in ACLF varies depending on the source of infection. This has relevance for ACLF prognostication and challenges previous notions that bacterial infection invariably worsens prognosis among all patients with ACLF.

Impact of Bacteria Types on the Clinical Outcomes of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cirrhotic patients presenting with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) have elevated risk of short-term mortality. While high Model for End-Stage Liver Disease-Sodium score (MELD-Na) and ascites culture yielding multi-drug resistance (MDR) bacteria are well established risk factors for further aggravating mortality, the impact of individual, causative microorganisms and their respective pathogenesis have not been previously investigated. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 267 cirrhotic patients at two tertiary care hospitals undergoing paracentesis from January 2015 to January 2021 who presented with ascitic PMN count > 250 cells/mm3. The primary outcome was SBP progression defined as death or liver transplantation within 1-month of paracentesis stratified by microorganism type. RESULTS: Of 267 patients with SBP, the ascitic culture yielded causative microorganism in 88 cases [median age 57 years (IQR 52-64)]; 68% male; median MELD-Na 29 (IQR 23-35). The microbes isolated were E. coli (33%), Streptococcus (15%), Klebsiella (13%), Enterococcus (13%), Staphylococcus (9%) and others (18%); 41% were MDR. Cumulative incidence of SBP progression within 1-month was 91% (95% CI 67-100) for Klebsiella, 59% (95% CI 42-76) for E. coli, and 16% (95% CI 4-51) for Streptococcus. After adjusting for MELD-Na and MDR, risk of SBP progression remained elevated for Klebsiella (HR 2.07; 95% CI 0.98-4.24; p-value = 0.06) and decreased for Streptococcus (HR 0.28; 95% CI 0.06-1.21; p-value = 0.09) compared to all other bacteria. CONCLUSION: Our study found Klebsiella-associated SBP had worse clinical outcomes while Streptococcus-associated SBP had the most favorable outcomes after accounting for MDR and MELD-Na. Thus, identification of the causative microorganism is crucial not only for optimizing the treatment but for prognostication.

Emergency medicine updates: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

INTRODUCTION: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a common infection in patients with cirrhosis and ascites and is associated with significant risk of mortality. Therefore, it is important for emergency medicine clinicians to be aware of the current evidence regarding the diagnosis and management of this condition. OBJECTIVE: This paper evaluates key evidence-based updates concerning SBP for the emergency clinician. DISCUSSION: SBP is commonly due to Gram-negative bacteria, but infections due to Gram-positive bacteria and multidrug resistant bacteria are increasing. The typical presentation of SBP includes abdominal pain, worsening ascites, fever, or altered mental status in a patient with known liver disease; however, some patients may be asymptomatic or present with only mild symptoms. Paracentesis is the diagnostic modality of choice and should be performed in any patient with ascites and concern for SBP or upper gastrointestinal bleeding, or in those being admitted for a complication of cirrhosis. Ultrasound should be used to optimize the procedure. An ascites absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 250 cells/mm3 is diagnostic of SBP. Ascitic fluid should be placed in blood culture bottles to improve the culture yield. Leukocyte esterase reagent strips can be used for rapid diagnosis if available. While many patients will demonstrate coagulation panel abnormalities, routine transfusion is not recommended. Management traditionally includes a third-generation cephalosporin, but specific patient populations may require more broad-spectrum coverage with a carbapenem or piperacillin-tazobactam. Albumin infusion is associated with reduced risk of renal impairment and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: An understanding of literature updates can improve the care of patients with suspected SBP.

[Guidelines on the management of ascites in cirrhosis (2023 version)].

Chinese Society of Hepatology of Chinese Medical Association organized relevant experts to update the Guidelines on the management of ascites and complications in cirrhosis in 2017 and renamed it as Guidelines on the management of ascites in cirrhosis. It provides guiding recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of cirrhotic ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) and hepatorenal syndrome (HRS).

Rapid detection for infected ascites in cirrhosis using metagenome next-generation sequencing: A case series.

Empirical antibiotic therapy in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is common as pathogen(s) are identified in only 5%-20% patients using conventional culture-based techniques. Metagenome next-generation sequencing (mNGS) test is a promising approach for the diagnosis of infectious disease. The clinical application of mNGS for infected ascites in cirrhotic patients is rarely reported. Here, we describe three cases to preliminarily explore the potential role of mNGS for microbiological diagnosis of ascites infection in an exploratory manner. The clinical performance of ascites mNGS in cirrhotic patients remains to be further evaluated.

Real-World Effectiveness of Piperacillin/Tazobactam with and without Linezolid for Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines recommend empirical therapy with piperacillin/tazobactam (TZP) for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) with low risk of multidrug-resistant organisms. Whether coverage of beta-lactam-resistant Gram-positive bacteria, such as ampicillin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, provides clinical benefit in such situations is unknown. METHODS: In this observational study, we investigated the real-world effectiveness of empirical therapy with TZP monotherapy versus TZP plus linezolid (LZD) combination therapy in patients with SBP from two centers. Treatment failure, defined as the need to escalate antibiotic therapy due to in vitro resistance, lack of neutrophil decrease in ascitic fluid, or clinical decision, and 30-day survival were retrospectively assessed. RESULTS: In the first cohort, 100 SBP episodes were empirically treated with TZP + LZD combination therapy (n = 50) or TZP monotherapy (n = 50). Treatment failure was recorded in 48% with TZP monotherapy compared with 16% with TZP + LZD combination therapy (p = 0.001), and this difference persisted after stratification for community-acquired versus hospital-acquired SBP. Although treatment failure after TZP therapy was associated with lower 30-day survival (56% vs. 82%; p = 0.04), 30-day survival with empirical TZP + LZD combination therapy was not different from empirical TZP monotherapy (Kaplan-Meier estimates 74% vs. 69%; p = 0.87). TZP concentrations in ascitic fluid were >32 mg/L in 94% samples after continuous administration. In a second cohort of 41 patients empirically treated with TZP, treatment failure was observed in 37%, which was also higher than in episodes treated with TZP + LZD in cohort 1 (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: In this retrospective analysis, empirical TZP + LZD combination therapy for SBP was associated with fewer treatment failures without impact on short-term survival.

Empyema and bacteremia caused by Aeromonas hydrophila: Case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the advance in antibiotics and widespread chest tube drainage, acute empyema still shows a high mortality rate, accounting for 10-25%. We experienced a case of acute empyema caused by A. hydrophila, which is extremely uncommon, and reviewed all previously published articles. CASE PRESENTATION: A 76-year older man with a medical history of liver cirrhosis (LC) due to chronic hepatitis C and hepatic cell carcinoma was admitted to our institute. Elevated inflammatory reaction and effusions on chest CT were seen, and he was suspected of having acute empyema. Although an empiric antibiotic therapy of meropenem with chest tube drainage was performed as an initial treatment, he died within 8 hours of admission. Postmortem, both blood and left pleural fluid cultures yielded Aeromonas hydrophila. The final diagnosis was acute empyema caused by A. hydrophila. We reviewed previously reported empyema caused by Aeromonas species cases (4 A. hydrophila, and 1 A. veronii) in 4 previous reports written in English, including ours. Of 5, all were male, and the mean age was 52 years (range 27-76 years). All patients had LC due to alcohol or viral infections. As for antibiotics initially prescribed, third-generation cephalosporins were most frequently used in 3/5 (60%). Thoracentesis was performed in all patients (100%). As for prognosis, 2 (40%) survived, and 3 (60%) died. CONCLUSION: Physicians should be aware of the possibility of acute empyema caused by A. hydrophila among patients with chronic hepatic disease.