Pyogenic Liver AbscessSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Pyogenic Liver Abscess Overview
Learn About Pyogenic Liver Abscess
Pyogenic liver abscess is a pus-filled pocket of fluid within the liver. Pyogenic means with pus.
Liver abscess; Bacterial liver abscess; Hepatic abscess
There are many possible causes of pyogenic liver abscesses, including:
- Abdominal infection, such as appendicitis, diverticulitis, or a perforated bowel
- Infection in the blood
- Infection of the tubes draining bile (bile ducts)
- Recent endoscopy of the bile draining tubes
- Trauma that damages the liver
A number of common bacteria may cause liver abscesses. In most cases, more than one type of bacteria are found.
Symptoms of liver abscess may include:
- Pain in the right upper abdomen (more common) or throughout the abdomen (less common)
- Clay-colored stools
- Dark urine
- Fever, chills, night sweats
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea, vomiting
- Unintentional weight loss
- Weakness
- Yellow skin (jaundice)
- Right shoulder pain (referred pain)
- Chest pain (lower right)
Treatment usually consists of placing a tube through the skin into the liver to drain the abscess. Less often, surgery is needed. You will also receive antibiotics for about 4 to 6 weeks. Sometimes, antibiotics alone can cure the infection.
Texas Health Surgical Specialists
Dr. Kimberly Washington is fellowship-trained in hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery with vast experience in the surgical and non-surgical treatment of liver, pancreas and biliary tract disorders. She uses a variety of techniques, including minimally invasive laparoscopy, endoscopy, ablation and robotic-assisted approaches, in the management of benign pancreatic masses, acute/chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cysts. She is also trained in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma and all liver metastatic diseases. Additionally, she treats benign diseases of the liver and biliary tract, including hepatic adenomas, liver hemangiomas, polycystic liver disease, simple and complex biliary stone disease, and bile duct injuries.Dr. Washington earned her medical degree and completed general surgery residency at the University of Tennessee in Memphis. She then served the Arlington, Texas community as a board-certified general surgeon from 2014 until 2020. In 2020, she returned to training in hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery fellowship at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland.In addition to her dedication to the management of surgical disease, Dr. Washington has also served on a global scale, caring for patients in India, Peru, Guatemala and Kenya. She has and continues to serve on numerous regional and national committees to advance the treatment of hepato-pancreato-biliary diseases. Dr Washington has published peer-reviewed works on areas of special interest, including multi-disciplinary management of colorectal liver metastasis with node-negative primary disease and surgical management of breast cancer liver metastasis, presenting many of these published works at national and international meetings. Through her role as a faculty member with the TCU Burnett School of Medicine, Dr. Washington was recognized in 2024 with the Gachman Endowed Faculty Excellence Award. She is a member of the American College of Surgeons, Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association, American Pancreatic Association, Association of Women Surgeons, International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association, Society of Surgical Oncology and Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract. Dr. Washington is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pyogenic Liver Abscess. Her top areas of expertise are Familial Pancreatic Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Pancreatic Pseudocyst, Pancreatectomy, and Liver Embolization.
ETSU Physicians & Associates- Surgery
. Dr. Lee is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pyogenic Liver Abscess. His top areas of expertise are Fibrolamellar Carcinoma, Familial Pancreatic Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Pancreatectomy, and Small Bowel Resection.
Advocate Medical Group General Surgery
Marin Marinov is a General Surgeon in Park Ridge, Illinois. Dr. Marinov is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pyogenic Liver Abscess. His top areas of expertise are Delirium, Gallbladder Disease, Gallstones, Hernia Surgery, and Colostomy.
This condition can be life threatening. The risk for death is higher in people who have many liver abscesses.
Life-threatening sepsis can develop. Sepsis is an illness in which the body has a severe inflammatory response to bacteria or other germs.
Contact your health care provider if you have:
- Any symptoms of this disorder
- Severe abdominal pain
- Confusion or decreased consciousness
- High fever that doesn't go away
- Other new symptoms during or after treatment
Prompt treatment of abdominal and other infections may reduce the risk of developing a liver abscess, but most cases are not preventable.
Published Date: August 29, 2024
Published By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Roy and Diana Vagelos Professor in Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, New York, NY. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Kim AY, Chung RT. Bacterial, parasitic, and fungal infections of the liver, including liver abscesses. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 84.
Sifri CD, Madoff LC. Infections of the liver and biliary system (liver abscess, cholangitis, cholecystitis). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 75.


