Objective To determine the effectiveness of percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) and to compare PCD with percutaneous needle aspiration (PNA) in the management of bacterial liver abscess. Methods The medical records of 206 patients with bacterial liver abscess admitted to this hospital between January 1989 and December 2009 were analyzed retrospectively. The outcomes of 96 patients receiving percutaneous treatment including PCD (PCD group, n=56) and PNA (PNA group, n=40) were compared, including the length of hospital stay, rates of procedure-related complications, treatment success, and death. Results There was no statistical difference in patients’ demographics or abscess characteristics between two groups (Pgt;0.05). The morbidity, mortality, and length of hospital stay in the PCD group and the PNA group were 1.79% vs 2.50%， 1.79% vs 2.50%， and (19.2±13.1) d vs (20.2±12.9) d, respectively, and the P values were 1.000, 1.000, and 0.887, respectively. There was statistically significant difference in successful rate between two groups （96.43% vs 75.00%， P=0.002）, but all simple abscesses with diameter of 5 cm or less were successfully managed in both PNA group and PCD group （13/13 vs 16/17， P=1.000）. Conclusions PCD is more effective than PNA in the management of bacterial liver abscess. PNA can be used as a valid alternative for simple abscesses with 5 cm in diameter or smaller.