Organisms

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 polymicrobial
  • common microorganisms isolated from bile cultures among patients with acute biliary infections
    • gram-negative organisms
      • 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

References:

1. Jain MK, Jain R. Acute bacterial cholangitis. Curr Treat Options Gastroenterol. 2006 Apr;9(2):113-21