Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 23, 2026
"Liver-on-a-Chip" Cultures of Primary Hepatocytes and Kupffer Cells for Hepatitis B Virus Infection
Published on: February 19, 2019
Infections complicating severe alcoholic hepatitis: Enterococcus species represent the most frequently identified
Claudia Beisel1,2, Usha Blessin1, Julian Schulze Zur Wiesch1,2
1a Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases , Hamburg University Medical Center , Hamburg , Germany ;
Background:
Patients with acute alcoholic steatohepatitis are at a high risk for infections. To date, neither disease-specific pathogen patterns, nor typical sites of infection, nor antibiotic treatment strategies have been established for AH.
Aims:
To characterize incidence of infections, pathogen spectrum, sites of infection, and related mortality of patients with AH under steroid therapy.
Methods:
We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 73 patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis (MELD ≥ 20).
Results:
Infections were detected in 45 patients (73%). Patients who developed an infection after initiation of corticosteroid therapy had a higher 6-month mortality than patients without onset of infection after initiation of corticosteroid treatment (44% versus 24%, p = 0.116). The pathogen identified most frequently was Enterococcus species.
Discussion:
Infections frequently complicate severe alcoholic hepatitis and affect survival. The high rate of Enterococcus infections suggests that commonly used antibiotics, such as cephalosporins and quinolones, may represent an ineffective choice of empiric antibiotic treatment for complicated AH.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Hepatitis
01:26Diseases of the Liver and Gallbladder
Cirrhosis is characterized by the scarring of hepatic lobules in the liver, which are replaced by fibrous tissue, affecting the liver's normal functioning. NAFLD, on the other hand, is caused by an excessive build-up of fat in the liver, not...
01:27Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
01:28Esophageal Varices-II: Clinical Features and Management
In the initial assessment, a thorough review of the patient's medical history is vital to identify risk factors such as liver disease, alcohol...
01:29Pulmonary Tuberculosis I
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...