[Defects of defence mechanisms against bacterial infections in patients with liver cirrhosis]

Patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis have a high risk of bacterial infection and a worse prognosis. They have defects of the humoral defence mechanism; impaired antibody production and depressed serum complement levels. The cellular defence mechanism is also defective. The function of neutrophil and reticuloendothelial system is depressed. The clearance of enteric organisms from the portal circulation is impaired by portosystemic shunt and impaired Kupffer cell function. Patients with massive ascites are prone to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis due to gram negative enteric organisms.