[Septicemia in cirrhotic patients]

Abstract

The clinical features of 22 patients with cirrhosis of the liver complicated by septicaemia were studied retrospectively and compared with a control group of 52 patients with septicaemia without cirrhosis. The incidence of septicaemia was higher in the cirrhotic group (4.25 p. 100) than in the control group (0.64 p. 100). The overall incidence of cirrhosis in patients with septicaemia was 19 p. 100. Nine of the 22 cirrhotic patients and 16 patients in the control group died. Prognostic factor common to both groups of patients were: shock, coma, delayed apyrexia and the isolation of more than one infecting organism on blood culture. Poor prognostic factors specific to the cirrhotic patients were the presence of ascites, especially if infected, and signs of hepatocellular failure.