Clinical characteristics and outcomes of liver abscesses: a 12-year retrospective analysis from a tertiary care center in the United Arab Emirates

The overwhelming majority of patients with liver abscesses at high-risk for complications respond favorably to antimicrobial therapy. However, the most striking finding was the unexpectedly observed mortality associated with <i>E. coli</i>, especially ESBL strains (80% mortality), something that underscores the need for rapid diagnosis and robust empiric coverage for resistant organisms in the severely ill. Our findings identify increased frequency of underlying malignancy which emerged as a major determinant of mortality, reinforcing the need for comprehensive cancer screening into the diagnostic workup of patients presenting with liver abscess.