Podcast 638: Pyogenic Liver Abscess

Contributor: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: Pyogenic liver abscesses can be caused by Intra-abdominal infection progressing to peritonitis which then drains into liver Bacteremia leading to hematogenous spead and seeding Local biliary infection with contiguous spread Patients typically present with signs of sepsis or septic shock and the abscess can be diagnosed using ultrasound or CT Treat with IV fluids, broad spectrum antibiotics, and consultation for drainage References Kurland JE, Brann OS. Pyogenic and amebic liver abscesses. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2004 Aug;6(4):273-9. doi: 10.1007/s11894-004-0078-2. PMID: 15245694. Rahimian J, Wilson T, Oram V, Holzman RS. Pyogenic liver abscess: recent trends in etiology and mortality. Clin Infect Dis. 2004 Dec 1;39(11):1654-9. doi: 10.1086/425616. Epub 2004 Nov 9. PMID: 15578367. Summarized by John Spartz, MS3 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD