Liver abscess; Bacterial liver abscess

Treatment usually consists of surgery or going through the skin with a needle or tube to drain the abscess. You will also receive antibiotics for about 4 - 6 weeks. Sometimes antibiotics alone can cure the infection.

This condition can be life threatening some patients. The risk for death is higher in people who have many liver abscesses.

Life-threatening sepsis can develop.

Call your health care provider if you have:

• Any symptoms of this disorder
• Severe abdominal pain
• Confusion or decreased consciousness
• Persistent high fever
• Other new symptoms during or after treatment

Images

Digestive system organs

Pyogenic abscess

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Pyogenic liver abscess Symptoms

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Pyogenic liver abscess Prevention

Review Date: 09/15/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)