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. 2018 May 10;13(5):e0197127.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197127. eCollection 2018.

Multiple bacterial infections increase the risk of hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis

Lan-Ting Yuan  1 , Seng-Kee Chuah  2   3 , Shih-Cheng Yang  2 , Chih-Ming Liang  2 , Cheng-Kun Wu  2 , Wei-Chen Tai  2   3 , Tsung-Hsing Hung  4 , Seng-Howe Nguang  5 , Jiunn-Wei Wang  6   7 , Kuo-Lun Tseng  6   8 , Ming-Kun Ku  9 , Pin-I Hsu  10 , Deng-Chyang Wu  6   7 , Chien-Ning Hsu  11   12
Affiliations

Multiple bacterial infections increase the risk of hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis

Lan-Ting Yuan et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Objective: Patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) are at increased risk for bacterial infections. It is not fully understood how exposure to infections induces further development of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). This study estimated risks of infection associated with HE among patients with LC.

Methods: A nested case-control study of 14,428 adult patients with LC was performed using the population-based Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 in Taiwan. Cases were cirrhotic patients who developed HE during follow-up. Controls were matched to each case by age at LC diagnosis (±2 years), sex, Charlson Comorbid index score, year of LC, and follow-up time with a 1:1 ratio. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine and compare the odds of developing HE based on exposure to various risk factors, including site of infection, cirrhosis-related complications, Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy, and peptic ulcer bleeding. Patient survival was evaluated using the time-dependent Cox regression model.

Results: Cirrhotic patients with HE (n = 714) and without HE (n = 714) were matched to compare risks. Infections and more frequent yearly infections were significantly associated with increased risk of HE. Independent predictors of HE included spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (aOR, 5.13; 95% CI, 3.03-8.69), sepsis (aOR, 2.54; 95% CI, 1.82--3.53), and biliary tract infection (aOR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.2-3.46), controlling for confounders.

Conclusion: Frequent infections are associated with increased risk of HE in cirrhotic patients. More frequent exposure to infection increases the risk of HE and mortality rates. Appropriate prevention of infection and the use of antibiotics for cirrhotic patients at risk for HE are needed.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. All-cause mortality among cirrhotic patients by frequency of infection episodes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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