We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
PURITAN MEDICAL

Download Mobile App




Key Factors Signal Infection Risk in Alcoholic Hepatitis

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 17 Aug 2021
Alcohol-associated hepatitis (AAH) is a severe form of liver injury with mortality as high as 30%-40% at 90 days. More...
As a result of altered immune function in AAH, bacterial infections are common and are associated with poor outcomes.

Severe cases of AAH are characterized by new onset jaundice. Infections are common in severe AAH, with approximately 25% of patients presenting with community-acquired infection and a similar percentage found to develop nosocomial infections. The high rates of sepsis observed in AAH may be explained by the impact of alcohol excess on the immune system.

Gastroenterologists and their colleagues at the Mayo Clinic Rochester (Rochester, MN, USA) performed a retrospective study of consecutive patients admitted with a diagnosis of AAH at two independent tertiary centers from 1998 to 2018 (test cohort, n = 286) who developed infections following hospitalization. The cohort was 66% men, and the median age was 48 (range: 21-83) years. Corticosteroids were used in 32% of all patients with AAH.

Patients were diagnosed with AAH based on the clinical criteria and laboratory data including aspartate aminotransferase (AST) >50, aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio >1.5, AST/ALT <400 IU/L, and serum bilirubin (total) >3.0 mg/dL. When the diagnosis of AAH remained unclear, a liver biopsy was obtained for confirmation. Types of infection were categorized as a urinary tract infection (UTI), bloodstream infection (BSI), pneumonia (PNA), spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), and Clostridium difficile (C. diff).

The scientists reported that the overall incidence of infection in the cohort was 36% (n = 102). They then excluded those who presented to the hospital with community-acquired infection, which was 12% (n = 34) of patients. The most common sources of infection at presentation were UTI (12), BSI (10), lower respiratory (6), SBP (3), and C. diff (3), and the most commonly identified organisms included Escherichia coli (8) and Staphylococcus aureus (6). Of those who developed an infection while hospitalized (31/286), the most common infection sources included lower respiratory tract infections (10), BSI (7), SBP (6), UTI (6), and C. diff (2).

Daniel Penrice, MD, a co-author of the study, said, “Our hope is that future studies can evaluate whether targeted prophylactic antibiotics for patients at high-risk for infection can improve survival. Our prediction model can likely be strengthened by the inclusion of novel biomarkers such as circulating serum bacterial DNA, endotoxin, or bacterial 16S ribosomal DNA.”

The authors concluded that in this multicenter cohort study of patients hospitalized with AAH, MELD score, ascites, WBC count, and use of corticosteroids were identified as significant predictors of the development of bacterial infection. They created a novel predictive equation that may be used to aid in the identification of patients with AAH at high risk of infection. The study was published on July 28, 2021 in the journal Hepatology Communications.

Related Links:
Mayo Clinic Rochester


Gold Member
Veterinary Hematology Analyzer
Exigo H400
3-Part Differential Hematology Analyzer
Swelab Alfa Plus Sampler
New
Automatic Hematology Analyzer
LABAS F9000
New
Clostridium Difficile Toxin A+B Combo Card Test
CerTest Clostridium Difficile Toxin A+B
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








DIASOURCE (A Biovendor Company)

Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: A simple blood test could replace surgical biopsies for early detecion of heart transplant rejection (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Blood Test Detects Organ Rejection in Heart Transplant Patients

Following a heart transplant, patients are required to undergo surgical biopsies so that physicians can assess the possibility of organ rejection. Rejection happens when the recipient’s immune system identifies... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: Pancreatic cancer diagnosis (Photo courtesy of World Journal of Gastroenterology)

AI-Driven Preliminary Testing for Pancreatic Cancer Enhances Prognosis

Pancreatic cancer poses a major global health threat due to its high mortality rate, with 467,409 deaths and 510,992 new cases reported worldwide in 2022. Often referred to as the "king" of all cancers,... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.