Hepatic abscesses: improvement in mortality with early diagnosis and treatment.

This study demonstrates that hepatic abscesses are highly lethal when untreated. There was an overall mortality of 29 per cent; however, if autopsy cases are excluded the mortality was only 13 per cent. Positive blood cultures (especially if multiple or anaerobic organisms), significant anemia, elevated bilirubin levels, multiple abscesses, and being Caucasian were identified as factors associated with increased mortality. Early diagnosis coupled with aggressive surgical and antibiotic therapy is needed.