Liver Abscess

Incidence and Epidemiology Liver – organ most subject to the development of abscesses 13% of total intraabdominal abscesses 48% of all visceral abscess Mortality - 5-30% of cases most common causes of death include sepsis, multiorgan failure, and hepatic failure No sexual predilection – males have poorer prognosis

Causes Solitary or multiple Arise from: hematogenous spread of bacteria local spread from contiguous sites of infection w/in the peritoneal cavity

Causes Disease of the biliary tract – most common Appendicitis w/ rupture and subsequent spread Pylephlebitis

Causes The 3 major forms of liver abscess, classified by etiology, are as follows: Pyogenic abscess, which is most often polymicrobial - Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae Amebic abscess due to Entamoeba histolytica Fungal abscess, most often due to Candida species