title: Remember primary peritonitis.
abstract: Two cases of primary peritonitis are reported. One, which we believe to be the first case reported in an elderly female, raised our index of suspicion and thus enabled the second case to be diagnosed by fine-needle paracentesis and treated without operation. Both cases outline the inadequacy of prophylactic antibiotic cover with a cephalosporin and metronidazole. The case reports are followed by a general discussion outlining the incidence, aetiology and treatment of primary peritonitis.
authors.affiliation: D Block Surgical Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents