49

Patients with cirrhosis are more susceptible to bacterial infections, especially those involving multidrug-resistant germs. They are the leading cause of organ failure and mortality and a major cause of hospitalization. The bacteria most commonly involved are from the digestive tract, such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and enterococci. The pathophysiology is based on an increase in intestinal permeability, which is the consequence of qualitative and quantitative changes in gut microbiota associated with an alteration in digestive tract mucosa, mainly intestinal. Systemic infection, secondary to bacterial translocation, is made possible by the constant failure of immune responses during cirrhosis, leading to uncontrolled proliferation and dissemination of bacteria.