• Highlights
• Introduction
• Causes
• Risk Factors
• Symptoms
• Complications
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Lifestyle Changes
• Abdominal Infections
• Encephalopathy
• Ascites
• Bleeding Episodes
• Resources
• References

Cirrhosis

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cirrhosis

Abdominal Infections

Antibiotics are administered when fluid examination and tests for ascites indicate infection. For a first episode, the antibiotic cefotaxime is typically administered intravenously, requiring hospitalization. Treatment usually lasts 10 days, but research indicates that 5 days may be sufficient for certain patients. Some research indicates that the oral antibiotic ofloxacin may work as well with fewer complications, allowing patients to be treated at home.

Preventing Infections in Advanced Cirrhosis

In advanced cirrhosis, the risk for serious abdominal infection is high, and the antibiotic norfloxacin is often prescribed preventively against specific organisms that infect the abdominal cavity. One study reported, however, that patients who took norfloxacin became susceptible to Staphylococcal infections. Long-term treatments with norfloxacin or similar antibiotics may increase the risk for fungal infections after liver transplantation.

• Review Date: 8/18/2006
• Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.

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