Successful iterative drainage and partial hepatectomy for pyogenic liver abscess in a HIV seropositive patient

The case of cryptogenic Escherichia coli pyogenic liver abscess in a 59-year-old Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) seropositive man is reported. The initial treatment was a percutaneous drainage. As the abscess did not reduce in size, surgical drainage was planned but during surgery a necrosectomy had to be performed resulting in a partial hepatectomy. After nine months of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid treatment, drainage and highly active antiretroviral therapy, the patient recovered completely. It is expected that because of highly active antiretroviral therapy, mortality rates of surgical interventions in patients with HIV infection will decrease. Because of the increased life expectancy in persons with HIV infection, the criteria for considering surgical interventions in these patients should be broadened.