Pyogenic liver abscesses: a retrospective review of 24 cases

to review our experience of pyogenic liver abscess with attention to the value of ultrasound and computerised tomography, and the duration of antimicrobial therapy.

retrospective review of all pyogenic liver abscesses in Christchurch hospitals between 1972 and 1989.

twenty-four cases were identified. The presentation of these cases was typical of those described in other series. Ultrasound scanning was positive in 69% of cases, and computerised tomography in 94%. Enteric organisms were isolated from blood or abscess cavities in all but two cases. Two patients died soon after admission and three were treated with antimicrobial therapy alone. The remainder underwent either a percutaneous or surgical drainage procedure, and received antimicrobial therapy. The antimicrobial therapy was clearly inappropriate in two patients. Eight patients (67%) with single abscesses received less than 10 days of antimicrobial therapy. Four patients (50%) with multiple abscesses received less than 18 days therapy. No patient relapsed.

ultrasound is a convenient initial imaging technique, but may give false negative results. Computerised tomography should be done promptly if clinical suspicion of a liver abscess persists. Both surgical and percutaneous drainage techniques gave good results in combination with antimicrobial therapy. It is probably unnecessary to give prolonged courses of antimicrobial therapy following drainage of single liver abscess, provided there is rapid resolution. Multiple abscesses, or those which are not drained, may require longer courses of antimicrobial therapy.