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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 21, 2014; 20(7): 1790-1796
Published online Feb 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i7.1790
Published online Feb 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i7.1790
Role of prophylactic antibiotics in cirrhotic patients with variceal bleeding
Yeong Yeh Lee, Department of Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
Hoi-Poh Tee, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan, Kuantan 25100, Pahang, Malaysia
Sanjiv Mahadeva, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
Author contributions: All the authors were involved in the design, analysis and writing of manuscript.
Correspondence to: Yeong Yeh Lee, MD, PhD, FACP, FRCP, Department of Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia. justnleeyy@gmail.com
Telephone: +60-9-7676590 Fax: +60-9-7653370
Received: September 18, 2013
Revised: November 11, 2013
Accepted: January 6, 2014
Published online: February 21, 2014
Revised: November 11, 2013
Accepted: January 6, 2014
Published online: February 21, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Bacterial infections are common in cirrhotics with variceal bleeding and can influence its outcomes that include early rebleeding, failure to control bleeding and mortality. It remains unsure whether infection or bleeding is the initiating event but prophylactic antibiotics have been proven useful. Short term fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins are the most studied antibiotics, and they are recommended by guidelines in clinical situations that depend on the severity of liver disease and resistance profile.