Assessement of bacterial infection in liver disease: A prospective study in a tertiary care hospital

Bacterial infection is a frequent and severe complication of various liver diseases including acute liver disease, chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, hepatitis etc.  The compromised immune function and changes in the gut microbic associated with liver diseases can contribute to an increases susceptibility to infection. In several studies carried out in cirrhosis have documented high prevalence of bacterial infection. Acute or chronic liver patients with factors like gastrointestinal bleeding, low ascitic protein, prior spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and low serum albumin are at heightened risk. About one third of patients hospitalized with cirrhosis have atleast one infection and two third of such infections are health care associated or nosocomial in origin. The diagnosis of liver cirrhosis was based on clinical, biochemical and pathological data. Our study conducted in a tertiary care hospital aims to investigate prevalence and incidence of specific bacterial infection. The primary objective is to investigate the prevalence and specific bacterial strain associated with liver disease. The secondary objective is to evaluate current antibiotic treatment modalities and monitoring the adverse drug reactions. Patients demographics, medical history, treatment details and lab reports will be recorded. The studies implications are will give an overview of the prevalence and specific bacterial strain associated with liver disease. The outcome will result in better diagnosis, treatment and management strategies. Identification of specific bacterial strain will help in the development of targeted antimicrobial agent, addressing the unique challenges posed by infections in liver disease patients.