QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF SEVERITY OF BILIARY-TRACT INFECTION

Background/Aims: It is very important for physicians to evaluate the s everity of the biliary infection. At the moment, there is no useful qu antitative system. In this study, we propose a scoring system for asse ssing the severity of biliary infections and evaluation of the efficac y of antibacterial and endoscopic treatments. Materials and Methods: W e created a biliary tract infection. score (BTIS) including Local phys ical and ultrasound findings, signs of inflammation and hepatobiliary involvement. The BTIS was calculated in 317 patients: group I - 155 pt s with cholecystitis and cholangitis, treated only by antibiotics and group II - 162 pts with acute cholangitis treated by endoscopic proced ures. Results: The BTIS allowed the differentiation of the severity of biliary infections: 15.50+/-0.52 in acute cholangitis group and 5.77/-2.79 in group I (p<0.001). The BTIS significantly decreased after an tibacterial therapy (excluding only the cefotiam subgroup) and in endo scopicaly treated patients. Conclusions: The BTIS is combination of si mple, reliable, acceptable and Low cost parameters, reflecting the pri ncipal pathological processes and degree of abnormalities. A BTIS faci litated the assessment of severity of biliary infection and comparison of the results of various methods of treatment.