Investigation of Bacteremia due to Aeromonas Species and Comparison with That due to Enterobacteria in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

• Main Authors: Toru Shizuma, Chiharu Tanaka, Hidezo Mori, Naoto Fukuyama
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2011-01-01
• Series: Gastroenterology Research and Practice
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/930826

Background. The role of Aeromonas species (sp.) in bacteremia in Japanese patients with liver cirrhosis is poorly understood. Aim. To establish the importance of Aeromonas sp. as a cause of bacteremia in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods. Clinical and serological features and short-term prognosis were retrospectively investigated and compared in Japanese patients with bacteremia due to Aeromonas sp. (𝑛=11) and due to enterobacteria (E. coli, Klebsiella sp., and Enterobacter sp.) (𝑛=84). Results. There were no significant differences in patients’ clinical background, renal dysfunction, or short-term mortality rate between the two groups. However, in the Aeromonas group, the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score and Child-Pugh score were significantly higher than in the enterobacteria group. Conclusion. These results indicate that the severity of liver dysfunction in Aeromonas-induced bacteremia is greater than that in enterobacteria-induced bacteremia in Japanese patients with liver cirrhosis.