Prevalence of Liver Disease in Patients with Streptococcus bovis Bacteraemia

• Published in: The Journal of infection Vol. 42; no. 2; pp. 116 - 119
• Main Authors: Gonzlez-Quintela, A., Martı́nez-Rey, C., Castroagudı́n, J.F., Rajo-Iglesias, M.C., Domı́nguez-Santalla, M.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alcoholism - complications; Bacteremia - etiology; Bacteremia - microbiology; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial sepsis; Biological and medical sciences; Colonic Diseases - complications; Disease Susceptibility; Endocarditis - etiology; Endocarditis - microbiology; Female; Hepatitis C Antibodies - blood; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Liver Cirrhosis - complications; Liver Diseases - complications; Liver Diseases - epidemiology; Liver Diseases - microbiology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Retrospective Studies; Spain - epidemiology; Streptococcal Infections - complications; Streptococcal Infections - epidemiology; Streptococcal Infections - microbiology; Streptococcus bovis; Spain; Human; Prognosis; Prevalence; Hepatic disease; Epidemiology; Bacteremia; Streptococcus bovis; Infection; Streptococcaceae; Cirrhosis; Streptococcal infection; Risk factor; Bacteriosis; Digestive diseases; Bacteria; Micrococcales
• ISSN: 0163-4453; 1532-2742
• DOI: 10.1053/jinf.2001.0799

Background: The relationship between Streptococcus bovis bacteraemia and gastrointestinal disease (mainly colon cancer) is well known. Patients with advanced liver disease are prone to bacteraemia. Less attention has been paid to the association between liver disease and Streptococcus bovis bacteraemia in the literature. Aims: To evaluate the prevalence of liver disease in patients with S. bovis bacteraemia. Patients and methods: Twenty-two episodes of S. bovis bacteraemia in 20 adults (13 males and seven females, with a median age of 61 years, range 32–94 years) were detected in a single hospital over a 7-year period. Ten of them had endocarditis. Patients' clinical records were reviewed, with special focus on underlying liver and gastrointestinal disease. Results: Eleven patients (55%) had a chronic liver disease. Nine of them were cirrhotics. Ten patients had a history of chronic alcohol abuse, and four patients had hepatitis C virus antibodies (associated with alcohol abuse in three cases). Large bowel disease was present in six out of 13 evaluable patients (adenocarcinoma in three cases). Patients with liver disease were younger than patients without it. Mortality related to S. bovis bacteraemia was particularly high among patients with advanced liver disease (Child-Pugh state C). Bacteraemia recurred two times in one alcoholic cirrhotic, who was diagnosed as having a Dukes-B colon cancer 4.5 years after the first episode of S. bovis bacteraemia. Conclusions: In our area, S. bovis bacteraemia is frequently associated with chronic liver disease. Liver disease may be a predisposing factor for S. bovis bacteraemia.