title: [Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since the beginning of the eighties systematic investigations broadened our knowledge about the clinical picture of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis very much. Important insights into epidemiology, pathogenesis, symptomatology, diagnosis and therapy of this disease, which is a frequent complication in patients with cirrhosis of the liver and ascites, could be gained. Actual research work primarily deals with questions of therapy and prophylaxis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Aim of this review is a comprehensive presentation of the different aspects of this disease on the basis of the present literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As on the one side the clinical symptoms may be very little and on the other side the prognosis is very bad, it is extremely important to take this entity into the differential considerations to make an early diagnosis and to start an adequate therapy early.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Innere Medizin, Schwerpunkte Gastroenterologie, Hepatologie und Endokrinologie, Robert-Bosch-Krankenhaus, Stuttgart.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zundler
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bode
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
vernacular_title: Die spontane bakterielle Peritonitis.