Sepsis in liver failure patients: Diagnostic challenges and recent advancements

Core Tip

Core Tip: Patients with liver failure (LF) are prone to bacterial sepsis due to immune dysregulation. Up to 80% of such patients develop bacterial infection, which is associated with various complications and poor outcomes. Therefore, it is imperative to diagnose bacterial sepsis at the earliest. However, differentiating between patients with and without sepsis can be challenging, as LF itself can mimic sepsis by inducing systemic inflammation and organ failure. Several novel biomarkers for sepsis and machine learning techniques are being investigated, as conventional biomarkers have shown inconsistent results in LF patients. This article addresses the magnitude, impact, challenges, and recent developments in understanding bacterial sepsis in LF patients.