Search

Few literatures discussed the relationship of glycemic control and body mass index (BMI) with the risk of pyogenic liver abscess. We conducted a population-based cohort study using participants of a community-based health screening program in Taiwan from 2005 to 2008 (n = 125,865). Information on fasting plasma glucose (FPG), BMI, and other potential risk factors of liver abscess were collected at baseline. Incidence of pyogenic liver abscess was ascertained using inpatient records from the National Health Insurance database. During a median 8.6 years of followed up, 192 incident cases of pyogenic liver abscess were reported. The incidence rate of pyogenic liver abscess was 70.2 and 14.7 per 100,000 in the diabetic and non-diabetic population respectively. In multivariable Cox regression analysis, the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) was 2.18 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22–3.90) in patients with diabetes with good glycemic control (FPG ≤ 130 mg/dl) and 3.34 (95% CI 2.37–4.72) in those with poor glycemic control (FPG > 130 mg/dl), when compared with non-diabetics. In the dose–response analysis, the risk of liver abscess increased monotonically with increasing FPG. After adjusting for diabetes and other comorbidities, overweight (25 ≤ BMI < 30) (adjusted HR: 1.43, 95% CI 1.05–1.95) and obese (BMI ≥ 30) (adjusted HR: 1.75, 95% CI 1.09–2.81) populations had a higher risk of liver abscess when compared to people with normal weight. Diabetes, especially poorly controlled disease, and high BMI were associated with higher risk of pyogenic liver abscess. Improving glycemic control and weight reduction may reduce the risk of developing pyogenic liver abscess. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endogenous endophthalmitis is an uncommon intraocular infection with potentially devastating consequences on vision. Klebsiella pneumoniae is highly prevalent in East Asian countries, with an increasing incidence recently worldwide. This retrospective study investigates infection sources and antibiotic susceptibilities of K. pneumoniae in patients with endogenous K. pneumoniae endophthalmitis (EKE) in Northern Taiwan. One hundred and fifty-seven patients with EKE were reviewed between January 1996 and April 2019. Pyogenic liver abscess (120/157, 76.4%) was the most common infection source, followed by pneumonia (13, 8.3%), urinary tract infection (7, 4.5%), and intravenous drug use (4, 2.5%). Bilateral involvement was identified in 12.1% (19/157) of patients, especially in patients with pyogenic liver abscess (16/120, 13.3%), pneumonia (2/13, 15.4%), and urinary tract infection (1/7, 14.3%). The antibiotic susceptibility rates were 98.1%, 92.5%, 97.5%, 96.8%, 100%, 99.3%, and 100% for amikacin, cefuroxime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, carbapenems, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin, respectively. Four extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing multidrug-resistant (MDR) K. pneumoniae isolates were identified. In conclusion, pyogenic liver abscess was the major infection source in EKE. In addition, K. pneumoniae was still highly susceptible to ceftazidime and amikacin, and the MDR K. pneumoniae isolates were not common in EKE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess (KPLA) is an emerging syndrome with the initial cases described in Taiwan in the 1980s. There is high mortality with this condition, and immediate aggressive treatment is necessary. Diabetes mellitus (D.M.) is the single most important risk factor for developing KPLA. Here, we describe a rare case of recurrent cryptogenic Klebsiella pneumoniae pyogenic liver abscess (KPLA) in a young man with poorly controlled type 1 D.M. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between periodontitis, dental scaling (DS) and pyogenic liver abscesses (PLAs). Material and Methods: A nationwide population‐based case‐control study was applied using data from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. We identified and enrolled 691 PLA patients, who were individually matched by age and sex to 2764 controls. Results: Conditional logistic regression was applied to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) in patients with exposure to periodontitis and DS before PLA. After adjusting for other confounding factors, periodontitis remained a risk factor for PLA among patients aged 20‐40 years, with an aOR of 2.31 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.37‐3.90, P = .0018). In addition, the average aOR for PLA was significantly lower among patients with one DS (aOR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.59‐0.96) and more than one DS (aOR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.39‐0.95) within 1 year before the index date. Conclusion: According to these results, we concluded that adult patients with periodontitis aged <50 years old are more at risk for PLA than controls, particularly when they have no DS. Moreover, from 20 years of age, non‐periodontal patients subjected to at least 2 DS per year are less at risk for PLA than controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare the characteristics, visual outcome, and prognostic factors of patients with endogenous endophthalmitis and to determine the association of endophthalmitis with Klebsiella pneumoniae infection.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed records of patients diagnosed with endogenous endophthalmitis from January 2002 to August 2013.Results: A total of 86 patients were diagnosed with endogenous endophthalmitis; 48 patients were infected with K. pneumoniae, 28 patients were infected with other pathogens, and 10 were culture-negative. Diabetes mellitus was more prevalent among patients infected with K. pneumoniae. Liver abscess and urinary tract infection were the leading sources of infection in patients with and without a K. pneumoniae infection, respectively. In patients with endogenous endophthalmitis, poor initial vision (p<0.001) and K. pneumoniae infection (p = 0.048) were significantly associated with a poor visual outcome.Conclusions: Poor initial vision and K. pneumoniae infection were significantly associated with poorer visual outcome for patients with endogenous endophthalmitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objective The incidence of pyogenic liver abscess in Taiwan appears to be much higher than that in western countries. However, little is known about the incidence of pyogenic liver abscess among patients with predialysis chronic kidney disease. The objective of this study was to assess the association between predialysis chronic kidney disease and the risk of pyogenic liver abscess in Taiwan. Methods This population-based, retrospective, cohort study was conducted to analyse the database of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program. There were 81118 subjects aged 20-84 years with newly diagnosed chronic kidney disease as the predialysis chronic kidney disease group since 2000-2010, and 81118 randomly selected subjects without chronic kidney disease as the nonchronic kidney disease group. The predialysis chronic kidney disease group and the nonchronic kidney disease group were matched with sex, age and comorbidities. The incidence of pyogenic liver abscess at the end of 2013 was calculated in both groups. Subjects who currently received dialysis therapy before the endpoint were excluded from the study. The multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the hazard ratio ( HR) and 95% confidence interval ( CI) for the risk of pyogenic liver abscess associated with predialysis chronic kidney disease and other comorbidities including alcohol-related disease, biliary stone, chronic liver disease and diabetes mellitus. Results The overall incidence of pyogenic liver abscess was 1·65-fold higher in the predialysis chronic kidney disease group than that in the nonchronic kidney disease group (1·38 vs. 0·83 per 1000 person-years, 95% CI 1·59, 1·71). After adjustment for covariables, the adjusted HR of pyogenic liver abscess was 1·51(95% CI 1·30, 1·76) for the predialysis chronic kidney disease group, comparing with the nonchronic kidney disease group. In addition, the adjusted HR would increase to 3·31 (95% CI 2·61, 4·19) for subjects with predialysis chronic kidney disease and with any comorbidity studied. Conclusion Predialysis chronic kidney disease is associated with 1·5-fold increased risk of pyogenic liver abscess. There seem to be a synergistic effect on the risk of pyogenic liver abscess between predialysis chronic kidney disease and comorbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Proton pump inhibitors ( PPIs) increase gastric pH and impair defence mechanisms against ingested pathogens, which may result in the overgrowth of virulent Klebsiella pneumoniae in the intestine and subsequent liver abscess. Aim We investigated the possible association between PPIs use and cryptogenic liver abscess in Taiwan. Methods We conducted a population-based case-control study using data from the National Health Insurance Research Database. A total of 958 adult cases of liver abscess and 3832 age- and sex-matched control patients were enrolled during 2000-2010. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratios ( ORs) in patients using PPIs before cryptogenic liver abscess. Results The adjusted OR associating current use of PPIs (prescription within the past 30 days) with cryptogenic liver abscess was 4.7 [95% confidence interval ( CI), 2.9-7.8], and recent use of PPIs (prescription within the past 31-90 days) with cryptogenic liver abscess was 2.9 (95% CI, 1.4-6.1). A dose-response relationship was apparent for cumulative dose of PPIs within 90 days. Adjusted OR was highest among the patients receiving PPIs more than 60 cumulative defined daily dose ( OR = 6.5, 95% CI, 2.8-14.9). Conclusion Proton pump inhibitor therapy within the past 90 days was associated with an increased risk of cryptogenic liver abscess. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Pylephlebitis (septic thrombophlebitis of the portal venous system) is a rare complication of intra-abdominal infection. We aimed to investigate the recent trend of its etiology, clinical manifestation, and prognosis. Methods: We retrospectively studied the etiology, clinical manifestation, and outcome by reviewing the medical records of all imaging-confirmed pylephlebitis cases diagnosed during the period 2002–2011 in a university hospital in Taiwan. To identify the risk factors for pylephlebitis, we randomly selected 160 patients with intra-abdominal infections but without pylephlebitis as the comparison group. Results: We identified 35 cases of pylephlebitis. Most patients were men [29/35 (83 %)]. The median age of the patients was 57 years (range 35–90 years). Unspecified abdominal pain (18/35) and fever (10/35) were the most common clinical manifestations. Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess (7/35) and cholangitis (7/35) were the most common etiologies. Liver abscess was a risk factor for pylephlebitis (13/35 vs. 27/160, P = 0.01). With antibiotic therapy, there was no in-hospital mortality, but pylephlebitis was still associated with an excess hospital stay (22.2 ± 17.6 vs. 9.8 ± 7.1 days, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Our study results suggested a different pattern of pylephlebitis from previous Western literature. K. pneumoniae liver abscess (7/35) is an emerging etiology of pylephlebitis in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess (KPLA) is prevalent in East Asia. Use of amoxicillin/ampicillin may lead to overgrowth of K. pneumoniae in the intestine and predispose to KPLA. We used an animal study and nationwide population-based database to investigate the association between ampicillin/amoxicillin use and KPLA in Taiwan.Methods. In an animal study, ampicillin or sterile water was administered orogastrically in serotype K1 K. pneumoniae–colonized mice and the outcome was compared. We identified 855 cases with liver abscess and selected 3420 age- and sex-matched control subjects from the National Health Insurance Research Database. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for the association between recent use of ampicillin/amoxicillin and KPLA.Results. Ampicillin administration predisposed K. pneumoniae–colonized mice to increased bacterial burden, liver abscess and necrosis, and lethality. The population-based study showed that the adjusted OR associating the use of ampicillin/amoxicillin within the past 30 days with KPLA was 3.5 (95% confidence interval, 2.5–5.1). No association was found with use in the past 31–90 days.Conclusions. Ampicillin/amoxicillin therapy started within the past 30 days was associated with increased risk for KPLA. We should avoid the overuse of these antibiotics to prevent undesired disease in the endemic area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Taiwan is endemic for pyogenic liver abscess (PLA). Septic ocular or central nervous system (CNS) complications derived from PLA can result in catastrophic disability. We investigated the epidemiology and long-term prognosis of PLA patients with septic ocular or CNS complications over an 8-year period. Methodology/Principal Findings: We extracted 21,307 patients with newly diagnosed PLA from a nationwide health registry in Taiwan between 2000 and 2007. The frequency of and risk factors for PLA with septic ocular or CNS complications were determined. The 2-year survival of these patients was compared between those with and without septic ocular or CNS complications. Septic ocular or CNS complications accounted for 2.1% of all PLA patients. Age and the Charlson comorbidity index were significantly lower in PLA patients with ocular or CNS complications than those without. Diabetes and age <65 years were independent predictors of septic ocular or CNS complications. The 2-year mortality of patients with septic ocular or CNS complications was similar to those without complications (24.8% vs. 27.5%, p = 0.502). However, among patients <65 years old and a Charlson index ⩽1, the 2-year mortality was significantly higher in those with than without complications (18.6% vs. 11.8%, p = 0.001). Conclusions/Significance: Physicians should recognize that catastrophic disability due to ocular or neurological complications from PLA could lead to a poor long-term prognosis, and should follow-up these patients more closely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a case of pyogenic liver abscess caused by community-acquired Klebsiella quasipneumoniae subsp. quasipneumoniae. The infecting isolate had 2 prominent features of hypervirulent K. pneumoniae strains: the capsular polysaccharide synthesis region for K1 serotype and the integrative and conjugative element ICEKp1, which encodes the virulence factors yersiniabactin, salmochelin, and RmpA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyogenic liver abscess has become a health problem in Taiwanese society. However, the extent of this problem has remained unclear because of the lack of a population-based study. We therefore performed a nationwide analysis of pyogenic liver abscess in Taiwan from 1996 through 2004. We analyzed 29,703 cases from the Taiwan National Health Insurance database and 506 cases from National Taiwan University Hospital. Our analysis showed that the annual incidence of pyogenic liver abscess increased steadily from 11.15/100,000 population in 1996 to 17.59/100,000 in 2004. Diabetes, malignancy, renal disease, and pneumonia were associated with a higher risk for the disease. By contrast, death due to pyogenic liver abscess decreased over time, although population-based abscess-related death increased slightly. Renal disease, malignancy, pneumonia, and heart disease correlated with higher death rates; Klebsiella pneumoniae infection and therapeutic procedures were related to lower death rates. Diabetes did not significantly change death rates for the 506 patients from the hospital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The association of the magA gene with the hypermucoviscosity phenotype relevant to the pathogenesis of Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess has been reported in Taiwan. Similarly, the rmpA gene, known as a positive regulator of extracapsular polysaccharide synthesis that confers a mucoid phenotype, may be another candidate gene causing hypermucoviscosity. However, the association of rmpA with K. pneumoniae clinical syndromes is unreported. We aimed to investigate the clinical correlation between rmpA and primary Klebsiella abscess, focusing on sites other than the liver. Methods. From July 2003 through December 2004, a total of 151 K. pneumoniae isolates recovered from 151 patients with bacteremia were collected from 2 large medical centers in southern Taiwan. Clinical data were collected from medical records. The genes rmpA and magA were amplified by polymerase chain reaction using specific primers. Results. The prevalences of hypermucoviscosity, rmpA, and magA were 38%, 48%, and 17%, respectively. As determined by statistical multivariate analysis, strains carrying rmpA were significantly associated with the hypermucoviscosity phenotype, and there was a significant correlation with purulent tissue infections, such as liver abscess and lung, neck, psoas muscle, or other focal abscess. Conclusion. Our data support a statistical correlation between the rmpA gene and virulence in terms of abscess formation for these hypermucoviscous K. pneumoniae strains. Hypermucoviscosity associated with rmpA, together with a thorough physical examination, may be helpful as a guide to carry out appropriate diagnostic tests on patients with an initially unknown source of K. pneumoniae bacteremia, particularly when looking for the occurrence of an underlying abscess. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ninety-seven cases of pyogenic liver abscesses in a 4-yr period were studied: 27.8% (27 cases) were associated with biliary tract stone, 5.2% (five cases) were associated with biliary tract cancer, and there were two cases of diabetes (2.1%) associated with anal infection, but 63.9% (63 cases) were diagnosed as cryptogenic. Forty patients (64.5%) in the cryptogenic group bad diabetes mellitus, and 23 of them (23/40, 57.5%) bad gas-forming infection. All patients received parenteral antibiotics therapy, percutaneous aspiration, drainage, or operation. I be overall mortality was 16.5%. Diabetes mellitus alone, without demonstrable infectious foci, was an important predisposing factor for pyogenic liver infection. Furthermore, to evaluate the clinical importance of gas-forming pyogenic liver infections, we separated these 42 diabetic patients into gas-forming and non-gas-forming groups, after sonography and CT scan. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the major pathogen in both groups. There was no significant difference in the clinical manifestations, complication, bacterial culture, or laboratory data between these two groups, except that the AST level was higher in the gas-forming group. However, the gas-forming group had a higher mortality rate (30.4% vs. 5.3%). Gas-forming liver abscesses were common among the diabetics. Early and adequate drainage for pyogenic liver abscesses with parenteral antibiotics are crucial in their management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess (KPLA) is an endemic disease in East Asia. KPLA is usually caused by hypervirulent strains that are susceptible to all kinds of antibiotics except ampicillin. Patients with KPLA are commonly treated with β-lactams and need prolonged duration of intravenous therapy. Fluoroquinolone has high oral bioavailability and has the potential to shorten the duration of intravenous therapy, but studies regarding fluoroquinolone use in KPLA are limited. We aimed to compare the outcomes of patients with KPLA treated with β-lactams and fluoroquinolone. Methods Consecutive patients with KPLA in a tertiary medical center of Taiwan between 2011 and 2018 were enrolled retrospectively. Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes were compared between cases treated with β-lactams and fluoroquinolones. Logistic regression was performed to identify risk factors of prolonged hospitalization (defined as > 30 days). Capsular genotypes and presence of rmpA or rmpA2 genes were analyzed among K. pneumoniae strains collected after July 2012. Hypervirulent strains were defined as those had rmpA or rmpA2 genes. Results A total of 330 KPLA patients identified, and the in-hospital mortality was 0.9% (n = 3). Nearly all K. pneumoniae strains were hypervirulent strains (97.1%). Capsular type K1 (n = 176) and K2 (n = 63) were the most common capsular types. Most patients received β-lactams (n = 296, 89.7%), and only 34 (10.3%) patients received fluoroquinolones as the main antibiotics (levofloxacin = 17; moxifloxacin = 10; ciprofloxacin = 7). The duration of intravenous antibiotics use in fluoroquinolones group was shorter than β-lactams group (20.12 ± 9.21 vs. 26.81 ± 16.10, P = 0.001). Prolonged hospitalization was more common in β-lactams group than fluoroquinolones group (32.1% vs. 11.8%, P = 0.014). The in-hospital mortality, duration of antibiotic use, and recurrence rate were similar between the two groups. Fluoroquinolones was independent protective factor for prolonged hospitalization (hazard ratio, 0.28; P = 0.026). Conclusion Fluoroquinolone is able to shorten the duration of intravenous antibiotic use and beneficial in prolonged hospitalization in patients with KPLA. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fluoroquinolones had similar clinical efficacy to β-lactams in Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess (KPLA). • KPLA patients treated with fluoroquinolones had a shorter duration of intravenous antibiotics. • KPLA patients treated with fluoroquinolones had a shorter hospital length of stay. Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess (KPLA) is an endemic disease in East Asia. Patients with KPLA usually require prolonged intravenous (i.v.) β-lactam therapy and hospitalisation. Fluoroquinolones have high oral bioavailability and the potential to shorten the duration of i.v. therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of fluoroquinolones as an alternative treatment for KPLA in Taiwan. Consecutive patients with KPLA in a medical centre in Taiwan between July 2012 and August 2019 were retrospectively enrolled. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared between cases treated with β-lactams and fluoroquinolones. A multivariate logistic regression model and propensity-score adjusted analysis were performed to identify independent risk factors for prolonged hospitalisation. A total of 234 patients with KPLA were identified during the study period. Most patients received β-lactams (n = 199; 85.0%), whilst only 35 (15.0%) received fluoroquinolones as the major therapy. Fluoroquinolones had similar clinical efficacy to β-lactams even in critically ill patients. Patients treated with fluoroquinolones had a shorter i.v. antibiotics duration (18.9 ± 7.6 days vs. 28.5 ± 14.7 days; P < 0.001) and hospital length of stay (LOS) (20.9 ± 8.3 days vs. 29.5 ± 16.2 days; P < 0.001) than patients treated with β-lactams. Major therapy with fluoroquinolones was an independent protective factor for hospital LOS > 14 days in all patients and for hospital LOS > 21 days in critically ill patients. In conclusion, fluoroquinolones were an effective alternative treatment for KPLA that resulted in a shorter duration of i.v. therapy and hospital LOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two diabetic patients with primary liver abscess, who initially responded unsatisfactorily to intravenous ceftriaxone or cefoxitin treatment and had abscess drainage, were found to be infected with a single clone of Klebsiella pneumoniae with two different colonial morphotypes and resistotypes. Primary liver abscess caused by second-generation cephalosporin-resistant K. pneumoniae strains may be an emerging problem in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clin Microbiol Infect 2012; 18: E338-E339 Abstract Since the mid-1980s, Klebsiella pneumoniae hypermucoviscous isolates have emerged in Taiwan and other Asian countries. We reported the first autochthonous European liver abscess due to an ST57 isolate, which belongs to virulent clonal complex CC23-K1. This case highlights the emergence in France and Europe of hypermucoviscous virulent K. pneumoniae isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Klebsiella pneumoniae-caused liver abscess (KLA) has become a health problem in Taiwan and is continually reported in other countries. Diabetes mellitus, the most common metabolic disorder, underlies half of the KLA patients in Taiwan. The clinical impact of KLA has been well-documented. Nevertheless, the molecular basis regarding how K. pneumoniae causes liver infection, particularly in diabetic individuals, remains unclear. Methodology/Principle Findings:Auto-bioluminescence-expressing K. pneumoniae was inoculated into diabetic mice and age-match naïve control. With the use of invivo imaging system, translocation of the bioluminescence-expressing K. pneumoniae from intestine to extraintestinal organs, mainly the liver, was noted in 80% of the diabetic mice, whereas the same bacteria causes extraintestinal infections in only 31% of naïve mice. Besides increased morbidity, the severity of hepatic tissue injury was also enhanced in the K. pneumoniae-infected diabetic mice. Upon K. pneumoniae infection, IFN-γ production was significantly evoked in the liver. To mediate IFN-γ signal, STAT (signal transducers and activators of transcription) 1 and 3 were activated in hepatocytes, and so was the expression of IRF (interferon regulatory factor)-1. Moreover, accumulation of neutrophils which was triggered by prolonged production of IL-1β and MIP-2, and significant increases in the level of active caspase 3 and phospho-eIF2α, were exclusively revealed in the K. pneumoniae-infected diabetic mice. Conclusion:The activation of IFN-γ/STAT/IRF-1 signaling demonstrated by this work emphasizes the role of IFN-γ for mediating the hepatic response to K. pneumoniae infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]