Abstract

Objective: To examine the antimicrobial therapy as prophylaxis and treatment of bacterial infection in liver diseases and its complications.
Methodology: This descriptive study was carried out at Liaquat University of medical and health sciences hospital Hyderabad, Pakistan from May to October 2018. Patients of liver cirrhosis with positive HCV antibodies, age from 16 to 70 years were included. Diagnosis of liver impairment was based on patient’s clinical features and laboratory tests which is documented in patient’s records. Purposive sampling technique was used to collect the data. Child Pugh classes are used to determine the severity and prognosis of disease.
Results: Out of 250 patients, 156(61.2%) were males and 48(38.8%) were females. 109(43.6%) belonged to Child Pugh Class C. Ascitic fluid analysis showed that 101(40.4%) samples were infected and 40.4% were culture positive. Escherichia coli was most frequent in 41(20.5%) organism. Most frequently ceftriaxone was prescribed intravenously in 121(48.4%) patients.
Conclusion: Bacterial peritonitis was widespread in liver disease. Ascites was a major problem and ascitic fluid culture showed E.coli as commonest causative agent of infections. Ceftriaxone was mostly used in them.

Key words: Bacterial peritonitis, Child Pugh class, prophylaxis, cirrhosis.