Dr Irvine's research focuses on anti-microbial function of ascites macrophages and ascites fluid itself, and how impaired immune function contributes to susceptibility to infection in cirrhotic patients. She is also interested in the epidemiology of infection and development of antibiotic resistance in this vulnerable patient population with high hospital admission rates.

Patients with liver cirrhosis are susceptible to a range of serious complications, with bacterial infections being one of the most clinically important problems, associated with high morbidity and mortality. The most common infection is spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in ascites fluid, most frequently with gram negative bacteria of enteric origin.

Publications by Karharine Irvine