•Bacterial infections still occur in around one-fifth of patients with cirrhosis and acute variceal bleeding despite antibiotic prophylaxis.•Respiratory bacterial infections are the most frequent, occurring early after admission.•Respiratory infections are related to the severity of cirrhosis, presence of severe hepatic encephalopathy and airway manipulation.•Over 50% of the bacteria isolated in this series were resistant to third-generation cephalosporines.
