ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Infectious Complications in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis
Ionela BACANU2, Vlad-Alexandru IONESCU1,2, Gina GHEORGHE1,2, Ancuta NASTAC2, Crista-Loredana TIUCA1,2, Camelia Cristina DIACONU1,2,3
1“Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
2Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Emergency Hospital of
Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
3Academy of Romanian Scientists
DOI 10.56082/annalsarscimed.2024.2.17
Correspondence: Vlad-Alexandru Ionescu, Department
of Internal Medicine, Clinical Emergency Hospital of Bucharest, Bucharest,
Romania; e-mail: vladalexandru.ionescu92@gmail.com
Abstract. Introduction: Liver
cirrhosis (LC) represents a major public health problem, with high morbidity
and mortality rates. Materials and methods:
We conducted an observational, descriptive, retrospective study in which we
included 198 patients with LC hospitalized in the Clinical Emergency Hospital
Bucharest over a period of 2 years. They were divided into two primary groups:
group A (83 patients with CH who had an infectious complication) and group B
(115 patients with LC who did not have an infectious complication). Results:
The predominant etiology of LC was excessive alcohol consumption, followed by
viral infections, specifically hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B virus. The
primary factors that contributed to the development of infectious complications
were the presence of ascitic fluid, hypoalbuminemia, and a personal medical
history of chronic kidney disease. The main infectious complications identified
were bronchopneumonia (39%), urinary tract infections (27%), bacteremia (24%),
Clostridioides difficile colitis (7%), spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (2%),
and pleural empyema (1%). The average hospitalization duration and mortality
rate were both twice as long for patients in group A as they were for patients
in group B. Conclusions: In summary, infectious complications are a
significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with LC and
necessitate multidisciplinary management.
Keywords: hepatic cirrhosis; infectious complications; diagnosis; prognosis;
mortality rate
