Use of Antibiotics Among Patients With Cirrhosis and Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding Is Associated With Reduced Mortality.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Prophylactic antibiotics are recommended for all patients with cirrhosis hospitalized for upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). We evaluated the association between use of antibiotics, outcomes of re-admissions, and mortality in these patients.

METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 6451 patients with cirrhosis (mean age, 60.6 y) in the Veterans Affairs health care system hospitalized for UGIB from January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2013 (8655 hospitalizations). We collected information on patients' baseline features, hospitalizations, etiology of UGIB, antibiotics given, hospital re-admission within 30 days of discharge, and mortality. We defined timely administration of antibiotics as receipt from 8 hours before admission through 48 hours afterward.

RESULTS: Timely administration of antibiotics occurred during 48.6% of admissions (n = 4210), increasing from 30.6% in 2005 to 58.1% in 2013. Independent predictors of antibiotic receipt included ascites, high model for end-stage liver disease score, esophageal variceal hemorrhage, and administration of octreotide or intravenous proton pump inhibitors. Variables associated with decreased odds of antibiotic provision included black race and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In multivariate analysis, timely administration of antibiotics was associated with a reduced 30-day mortality rate (adjusted odds ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.52-0.93; P = .012).

CONCLUSIONS: In a study of patients with cirrhosis and UGIB in the VA health care system, timely administration of antibiotics was associated with a 30% reduction in 30-day mortality. The proportion of patients with cirrhosis and UGIB receiving timely antibiotics nearly doubled from 2005 to 2013, but many patients-particularly those with less-advanced cirrhosis-did not receive this intervention. Targeted efforts are needed to promote the appropriate use of antibiotics among patients with cirrhosis and UGIB.