Our reanalysis reveals previously unappreciated patterns of <i>Escherichia coli</i> spread during liver abscess formation, clarifies the role of the Muc2 mucin in <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> systemic spread, and quantifies how <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> replication in the lungs drives systemic dissemination. Here, MUC5AC is linked to Liver abscess.