[A clinical study of pyogenic liver abscess at two different local hospitals]

Despite the improvement of personal and social hygiene, pyogenic liver abscess is still a common disease. We compared the incidence, infection route, underlying disease and major complications between two different local hospitals.

We reviewed the clinical data of 100 patients with pyogenic liver abscess who were treated at Seoul and Guri Hanyang University Hospital from 1999 to 2003.

There were 64 males and 36 females in the study group; they were aged from 19 to 94 years with a mean of 56.5 years. Every year 19 to 23 pyogenic liver abscess patients were admitted to both hospitals. The most common organism isolated was Klebsiella pneumoniae in both local hospitals. In the Seoul hospital, diabetes (40.9%) was most common associated condition. In the Guri hospital, biliary tract disease or a history of hepatobiliary surgery (54.2%) was the most common associated condition. Catheter drainage and/or percutaneous needle aspiration were established as the standard treatment modality.

In both regional hospitals, the incidence of pyogenic liver abscess did not decrease and Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most common organism. Diabetes and biliary tract disease, including, previous hepatobiliary surgery, were the most identifiable underlying disease.