Pyogenic liver abscesses of bacterial origin. A study of 45 cases.

OBJECTIVE: to determine the clinical, microbiological, diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics of pyogenic liver abscesses of bacterial origin. METHODS: retrospective analysis of pyogenic liver abscesses diagnosed at the Aranzazu Hospital in San Sebastian (northern Spain) between 1989 and 1998. RESULTS: we studied 45 patients with pyogenic liver abscesses of bacterial origin (30 men, 15 women, mean age 61 years 11 months). The site of the liver abscess was biliary in 28.9% of the patients, portal in 11.1%, and unknown in 33.3%. Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (95.5%), leukocytosis (86.7%) and fever (82.2%) were the most frequent clinical and laboratory findings. The abscesses were solitary in 55. 5% of the patients. Echography was diagnostic in 68.4% of patients, and computed tomography was diagnostic in 100%. Cultures of pus from the abscess and blood were positive in 77.1% and 50% respectively. Of the abscesses diagnosed as being of bacterial origin, 44.4% involved multiple organisms. Escherichia coli and Streptococcus milleri were the germs isolated most frequently. Percutaneous drainage was done in 22 patients (48.9%), with satisfactory results in 18. Overall mortality related with abscesses was 15.5%. CONCLUSIONS: the clinical presentation of pyogenic liver abscess did not vary during the study period. Computed tomography is fundamental for diagnosis and treatment. Percutaneous drainage associated with early antibiotic therapy is the treatment of choice.