amoxicillin-potassium-clavulanate-combination and Ascites

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is one of the most serious complications occurring in cirrhotic patients with ascites. Therefore, an effective therapy is always required starting immediately after diagnosis. There are three aims of therapy: (1) to eradicate the bacterial strain responsible of the infection; (2) to prevent renal failure; and (3) to prevent SBP recurrence. The first end point is achievable by means of a large-spectrum antibiotic therapy. Empirical antibiotic therapy can be started with a third-generation cephalosporin, amoxicillin-clavulanate or a quinolone. The effectiveness of antibiotics should be verified by determining the percent reduction of polymorphonuclear cells count in the ascitic fluid. If bacteria result to be resistant to the empirical therapy, a further antibiotic must be given according to the in vitro bacterial susceptibility. In most cases, a 5-day antibiotic therapy is enough to eradicate the bacterial strain. Severe renal failure occurs in about 30% of patients with SBP, independently of the response to antibiotics, and it is associated with elevated mortality. The early administration of large amount of human albumin showed to be able to reduce the episodes of renal failure and to improve survival. After the resolution of an episode of SBP, the recurrence is frequent. Therefore, an intestinal decontamination with oral norfloxacin has been shown to significantly reduce this risk and is widely practised. However, such a long-term prophylaxis, as well as the current increased use of invasive procedures, favours the increase of bacterial infections, including SBP, contracted during the hospitalization (nosocomial infections) and sustained by multi-resistant bacteria. This involves the necessity to use a different strategy of antibiotic prophylaxis as well as a more strict surveillance of patients at risk.

Topics: Albumins; Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Ascites; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Empiricism; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Liver Cirrhosis; Liver Transplantation; Peritonitis; Recurrence; Risk Factors; Time Factors

Bacterial infections are well described complications of cirrhosis that greatly increase mortality rates. Two factors play important roles in the development of bacterial infections in these patients: the severity of liver disease and gastrointestinal haemorrhage. The most common infections are spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, urinary tract infections, pneumonia and sepsis. Gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria are equal causative organisms. For primary prophylaxis, short-term antibiotic treatment (oral norfloxacin or ciprofloxacin) is indicated in cirrhotic patients (with or without ascites) admitted with gastrointestinal haemorrhage (variceal or non-variceal). Administration of norfloxacin is advisable for hospitalized patients with low ascitic protein even without gastrointestinal haemorrhage. The first choice in empirical treatment of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is the iv. III. generation cephalosporin; which can be switched for a targeted antibiotic regime based on the result of the culture. The duration of therapy is 5-8 days. Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and fluoroquinolones--patients not on prior quinolone prophylaxis--were shown to be as effective and safe as cefotaxime. In patients with evidence of improvement, iv. antibiotics can be switched safely to oral antibiotics after 2 days. In case of renal dysfunction, iv albumin should also be administered. Long-term antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended in patients who have recovered from an episode of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (secondary prevention). For "selective intestinal decontamination", poorly absorbed oral norfloxacin is the preferred schedule. Oral ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin (added gram positive spectrum) all the more are reasonable alternatives. Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole is only for patients who are intolerant to quinolones. Prophylaxis is indefinite until disappearance of ascites, transplant or death. Long-term prophylaxis is currently not recommended for patients without previous spontaneous bacterial peritonitis episode, not even when refractory ascites or low ascites protein content is present.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Ascites; Bacteremia; Bacterial Infections; Cefotaxime; Cephalosporins; Ciprofloxacin; Fluoroquinolones; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Liver Cirrhosis; Norfloxacin; Peritonitis; Pneumonia, Bacterial; Primary Prevention; Severity of Illness Index; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; Urinary Tract Infections

Topics: Adult; Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; Ascites; Bacteremia; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Comorbidity; Drug Combinations; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Gonorrhea; Hepatitis C, Chronic; HIV Infections; Humans; Ileus; Liver Neoplasms; Multiple Organ Failure; Ofloxacin; Pelvic Infection; Peritonitis