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