[Bacterial infections in the context of chronic liver disease].

Cirrhosis results from chronic liver disease and is associated with a high mortality. The most frequent causes for chronic liver disease include alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and viral hepatitis B and C. Bacterial infections often complicate decompensated cirrhosis. It is estimated that up to 35% of patients with decompensated cirrhosis have an infection at admission or during hospital stay. There are considerable consequences to these bacterial infections. Whilst evidence supports the use of prophylactic antibiotics, the emergence of multi-resistant bacteria is changing the spectrum of antibiotics that have to be used.