Infections in advanced chronic liver diseases
This clinical school is designed to advance practical expertise in the prevention, diagnosis, and management of infections and sepsis in patients with advanced chronic liver disease.
Infections are a leading cause of decompensation and mortality in cirrhosis, and sepsis remains one of its most devastating complications. Their clinical impact is further amplified by the rising prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) and an evolving microbiological landscape.
The program focuses on evidence-based approaches to infection-related complications, with particular emphasis on antimicrobial stewardship. Current management guidelines are largely extrapolated from non-cirrhotic populations, while emerging antibiotics, biomarkers, and vaccines remain insufficiently studied in liver disease. As a result, everyday clinical practice often lags behind rapidly advancing therapeutic options.
Through interactive, small-group workshops and case-based discussions, participants will develop skills to critically appraise the literature and translate research findings into real-world clinical decision-making. Led by hepatology and infectious-disease experts from leading centers, this two-day course addresses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges across the full spectrum of infections and sepsis in cirrhosis, and concludes with participant-led presentations and dynamic faculty discussions.
School Organisers:
- Marina Berenguer
- Iva Košuta
- Anna Mrzljak
- Neven Papić
Please note that the programme is subject to change, and will be updated continuously up to the school event.
Aims
- To improve clinical decision-making in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infections and sepsis in advanced chronic liver disease, including multidrug-resistant infections.
- To embed antimicrobial stewardship into everyday hepatology practice, with emphasis on appropriate antibiotic choice, escalation, and de-escalation.
- To address infection-related complications such as ACLF and sepsis, and their impact on prognosis and liver transplant eligibility.
Learning objectives
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Recognize and manage common and severe infections in cirrhosis, including SBP, pneumonia, and sepsis, using up-to-date diagnostic and treatment strategies.
- Choose empiric and targeted antibiotic therapy in patients with cirrhosis, accounting for local resistance patterns, prior antibiotic exposure, and organ dysfunction.
- Interpret microbiological results and biomarkers to adjust antimicrobial treatment in real time and avoid unnecessary antibiotic use.
- Identify early signs of clinical deterioration, including progression to ACLF or septic shock, and implement timely escalation of care.
- Assess transplant eligibility in patients with active infection, balancing infection control, disease severity, and expected outcomes.
Top 3 reasons to attend
- Network with peers and experts in hepatology and infectious diseases.
- Improve your antimicrobial decision-making, from empiric therapy to targeted treatment and de-escalation, guided by antimicrobial-stewardship practices.
- Gain insight into complex clinical decisions, including ACLF management and transplant assessment in patients with active infection.
Target audience
- Hepatologists
- Infectious disease specialists
- Clinical scientists
- Transplant hepatologists
- Intensive care trainees
Meet the organisers
CME accredication
EASL is applying for EACCME accreditation for this programme. Further information regarding accreditation and the number of CME credits will be shared in due course. CME credits may be claimed after completion of the programme. and submission of the survey.
EASL Schools of Hepatology
The EASL Schools help train the next generation of hepatologists and scientists. Through individual work, collaborative teamwork and discussions with faculty, students gain invaluable insight into new experimental techniques and clinical approaches.
The format, designed to host 25 students, is “flipped-classroom” based, learner-centric and problem-oriented. Preparation for the onsite learning consists of online course(s) and educational materials hosted on EASL Campus and provided by the school organisers. Students are expected to take the online course(s) and complete the pre-assessments in the month preceding the start of the EASL School. Once onsite, students should work in small groups under the guidance of experienced tutors (Emphasising on teamwork and cooperation). The post-assessments and surveys are conducted on EASL Campus.
Flipped Classroom Model for Clinical Schools
Read more about the Flipped Classroom Model for Clinical Schools
Flipped Classroom Model for Basic Science Schools
Read more about the Flipped Classroom Model for Basic Science Schools
CME Accreditation:
EASL applies for accreditation from the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME) for all its educational activities.
The EACCME is an institution of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) and EACCME credits are recognised by the American Medical Association towards the Physician’s Recognition Award (PRA).
Details of the number of CME’s accredited per event are available on the event web pages.
I want to organise an EASL School / I am an organiser
Requirements for application
- Only EASL members may apply to host an EASL School. If you are not a member yet, you can become an EASL member now.
- EASL Schools must be hosted in dedicated European centres of excellence and be able to accommodate plenary sessions and breakout groups.
- EASL Schools must be led by experts of the hosting institution (Maximum 2 external experts are allowed).
- EASL Schools programme must not exceed 2 days.
- EASL strongly recommends maintaining a minimum gender balance ratio of 70% to 30% among the faculty participating in the EASL School programme.
The proposals will be reviewed by the EASL Educational Committee. EASL will allocate a dedicated budget to the successful applications. EASL office will provide the successful applicants with the related information and guidelines.
Clinical EASL Schools
The programme must be based on the following structure:
Before the EASL School:
- Pre-assessments of the students through EASL Campus (online courses, live webinars, quizzes etc.).
- Group assignment.
Day One:
- Clinical cases study: Student groups are assigned complex clinical cases with tutors to guide them.
Day Two:
- Clinical cases presentations and selection of the winning group.
- State-of-the-art lecture by a renowned expert.
- Students’ evaluation of the school programme and format (Mandatory).
After the EASL School: Post-assessment tests and accreditation of the students through EASL Campus.
To learn more about this EASL School format, discover this year’s schools:
Management of liver disease in pregnancy, 20-21 June 2025, London (United Kingdom)
Liver Critical Care & Liver Failure, 20-21 June 2025, London (United Kingdom)
Basic EASL Schools
The programme must be based on the following structure:
Before the EASL School:
- Pre-assessments of the students through EASL Campus (online courses, live webinars, quizzes etc.).
- Group assignment.
Day One:
- Experimental hands-on sessions.
Day Two:
- Experimental hands-on sessions.
- State-of-the-art lecture by a renowned expert.
- Students’ evaluation of the school programme and format (Mandatory).
To learn more about this EASL School format, discover this year’s school Advanced Immunology of the Liver; Deep Immunophenotyping of liver FNA and resection samples using multi-modal techniques 27-28 June 2025, Oxford (United Kingdom).
I am a student
Masterclass
Selected participants will attend a two-day intensive training session with a curriculum designed for future leaders in academic hepatology. The programme consists of academic lectures, interactive break-out sessions, individual meetings with tutors, abstract presentations, a poster session, and social events to give early-stage investigators (MD, PhD, or MD/PhD, or equivalent) the opportunity to network with world leaders in hepatology.
*This year, all Masterclass applications must be submitted through the AASLD platform, and creating an AASLD account is required.