organisms

Last edited 02/2022

The organisms involved in gall bladder infection are as follows.

  • Bacterial infection is the most common aetiology of acute cholangitis:
    • at least half of all bacterial infections are polymicrobia
    • common microorganisms isolated from bile cultures among patients with acute biliary infections
      • gram-negative organisms (1)
        • Escherichia coli: 31-44%
        • Klebsiella spp.: 9-20%
        • Pseudomonas: 0.5-19%
        • Enterobacter spp.: 5-9%
      • gram-positive organisms (1)
        • Enterococcus spp: 3-34%
        • Streptococcus spp: 2-10%
        • anaerobes: 4- 20%
  • Viral infections are less common
    • generally cause histological cholangitis (i.e. without clinical features)
  • Fungal infections are rare
    • may occur in individuals who have undergone biliary instrumentation or who are immunocompromised (2)

References:

  1. Gomi H et al. TG13 antimicrobial therapy for acute cholangitis and cholecystitis. J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Sci. 2013;20(1):60-70
  2. What if it's acute cholangitis? Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 2005;43:62-64.