Analysis of the clinical characteristics of 202 patients with liver abscess associated with diabetes mellitus and biliary tract disease

OBJECTIVE: Clinical characteristics of patients with pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) of varying etiologies may be different. This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics, pathogenic bacteria, treatment, and prognosis of patients with PLA associated with diabetes and biliary disease. METHODS: Clinical, imaging, and laboratory data from 202 inpatients with PLA were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Eighty-eight patients (43.6%) had a history of diabetes, 73 (36.1%) had a history of underlying biliary tract disease, and 24 (11.9%) had both the diseases. The level of C-reactive protein (CRP) increased in 99.2% (119/120) patients, and the level of procalcitonin (PCT) increased in 95.5% (148/155) patients. The main pathogen of PLA was Klebsiella pneumoniae. The incidence of bloodstream infection increased by 34.4% (22/64) in patients with PLA that was associated with diabetes mellitus, and that of K. pneumoniae infection was 88.6% (39/44). The readmission rate for patients with PLA with underlying biliary diseases was 10.2 to 12.5%. CONCLUSION: The main pathogen of PLA is K. pneumoniae, which is sensitive to most antibiotics. Patients with PLA associated with diabetes were more likely to have bloodstream infections, and the recurrence rate of PLA with underlying biliary diseases was higher than without biliary duct disease.