Presentations of pyogenic liver abscess in one UK centre over a 15-year period

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) has been a condition of high mortality, improving over recent decades with combined antibiotic and percutaneous drainage. We aimed to identify the presenting features, diagnosis, microbiology, treatment and outcome for patients over a 15-year period at an inner-city hospital.

METHODS: Patients with an appropriate discharge diagnosis were identified and case records retrospectively analysed.

RESULTS: A total of 73 patient records were analysed. Common presenting features were anorexia, abdominal pain, fever, vomiting and weight loss with raised white cell count, C-reactive protein, alkaline phosphatase and hypoalbuminaemia. The delay following symptom onset to presentation was a mean of 17.3 days. The inclusion of PLA as a possible diagnosis on admission was only considered in 1% of cases. Positive blood or abscess culture was achieved in 63% of cases. We recorded a hospital mortality rate of 11%.

CONCLUSIONS: In this sample, PLA was rarely considered as a possible diagnosis at presentation. There are common presenting features, which should prompt early investigation. Our microbiological yield was lower than in some studies and may be due to the early empirical use of antibiotics, without microbiological guidance. Percutaneous drainage and antibiotic treatment remain the mainstay of management. The underlying cause for PLA is often not identified. Emerging septicaemia or underlying malignancy were strong predictors of mortality.