The most common cause of pyogenic liver abscess in children today is which of the following?

c. Immunocompromised host

In the preantibiotic era, pyogenic hepatic abscesses occurred most frequently after perforated appendicitis. This complication is rarely seen today. Chronic granulomatous disease of childhood is a principle condition associated with hepatic abscess. This disease is the result of deficient oxidant-mediated bacterial killing by circulating granulocytes. In the pediatric age group, 40% of pyogenic liver abscesses occur in children with chronic granulomatous disease, and another 30% occur in children with other immunodeficiencies, most commonly leukemia. Other rare causes of liver abscesses in pediatric patients are umbilical vein catheter-induced infection, omphalitis and other biliary disease. Pyogenic liver abscesses following blunt liver injury or percutaneous liver biopsy are distinctly rare events.