Bacterial Infection Features in Alcohol-Associated Hepatitis

Background/Objectives: Bacterial infections (BI) are a major cause of mortality in patients with alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH); however, only a few studies have investigated BI in AH in the last decade. Therefore, we aimed to assess the features and outcomes of BI in patients with AH. Methods: T...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Jiménez, Cesar|||0000-0003-2455-2048, Martí-Carretero, Aina, Villagrasa, Ares|||0000-0003-0928-0427, Aguilar, Anna|||0000-0002-0436-4827, Pérez-Pérez, María, Ventura-Cots, Meritxell|||0000-0001-9513-2855, Vargas Blasco, Víctor|||0000-0002-7190-6948
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2024
País:España
Institución:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:302491
Acceso en línea:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/302491
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.3390/jcm13195693
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Bacterial infections
Alcoholic hepatitis
Alcohol-associated hepatitis
Risk factors
Acute-on-chronic liver failure
Corticosteroids
Descripción
Sumario:Background/Objectives: Bacterial infections (BI) are a major cause of mortality in patients with alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH); however, only a few studies have investigated BI in AH in the last decade. Therefore, we aimed to assess the features and outcomes of BI in patients with AH. Methods: This observational descriptive study included patients with AH admitted to a tertiary academic hospital between 2016 and 2021. Clinical and complete microbiological data were recorded and complications, including acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), and mortality over 90-days were compared between infected and noninfected patients. Results: Overall, 115 patients with AH were recruited and 75 had severe AH; among them, 66 started corticosteroid treatment. We identified 69 cases of BI in 44 patients; the incidence of BI upon hospital discharge was 32.2%, which reached 38.2% at 90 days. The predominant infection site was the chest (35%). Among the identified bacteria (52.1%), half were gram positive and half gram negative. A low rate of multidrug-resistant bacteria (14%) was also noted. Infected patients during hospitalization (n = 37) exhibited higher rates of hepatic decompensation and ACLF (p = 0.001) and lower survival (81.8% vs. 95.8%, p = 0.015) than did noninfected patients (n = 78). In-hospital infected patients (n = 22) exhibited worse survival (72.7%) than did those infected upon admission (93.3%) or noninfected patients (94.9%) (p = 0.009). Corticosteroid-treated patients displayed a nonsignificant increase in the total number of BI; however, without greater mortality. Conclusions: BI were common in our cohort of patients with AH. Patients with in-hospital infections commonly experienced serious complications, including high ACLF and death rates. Infections diagnosed upon admission were treated without affecting survival.