Bacterial infections in patients with cirrhosis

Bacterial infection is a frequent and severe complication of cirrhosis that may present on admission or develop during hospitalization in 30-60% of hospitalized cirrhotic patients. The most frequent infective complications include spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, and bacteremia, mostly due to the concomitant presence of various facilitating mechanisms such as changes in the reticuloendothelial system, decreased opsonic activity of the ascitic fluid, neutrophil leukocyte dysfunction, and iatrogenic factors. In fact, up to 25% of cases of death in cirrhotic patients are believed to be related to bacterial infections. This paper aims to provide a brief overview of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, treatment and prophylaxis of bacterial infection in cirrhosis.