Why bad gut bugs make liver patients sicker

When the lining of the intestines becomes less effective at blocking substances from passing into the bloodstream, it leads to higher levels of inflammatory markers in the body.

In people with advanced liver cirrhosis, an overgrowth of Candida fungi is commonly found alongside bacterial populations dominated by Enterococcus, and this combination is associated with a higher rate of fungal infections, indicating a possible interaction between fungal and bacterial microbes that may worsen clinical outcomes.

In patients with advanced liver cirrhosis, antibiotic use is linked to changes in the gut microbiome, including fewer types of bacteria, a rise in Enterococcus bacteria, and increased Candida fungi.

In people with advanced liver cirrhosis, an imbalance in gut bacteria—specifically high levels of Enterococcus, low bacterial variety, and reduced production of certain bacterial metabolites—is linked to higher levels of a protein that weakens the gut barrier, more widespread inflammation, and more frequent fungal infections.

In patients with advanced liver cirrhosis, the presence of Bifidobacteria as the dominant gut bacteria is associated with higher bacterial diversity, more total bacteria, fewer fungi, and lower levels of systemic inflammation compared to cases where Enterococcus is the dominant gut bacterium.