Pyogenic liver abscesses may complicate schistosomiasis.
Schistosoma mansoni is the species of schistosomiasis most often implicated.
Staphylococcus aureus is a common isolate and is associated with pyoderma. Other bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa may cause abscesses.
Proposed mechanism: bacterial seeding of intrahepatic granulomas, with bacteremia often triggered by the schistosomiasis.
Imaging studies of the liver should be performed in patients with a history of bacteremia, persistent fever, right upper quadrant pain and abnormal liver function tests.
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