title: Review article: spontaneous bacterial peritonitis--diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
abstract: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is a serious complication of cirrhotic ascites, arising most frequently in those with advanced liver disease. Its development leads to a further reduction in the effective arterial blood volume, and it has a mortality rate equivalent to that of a variceal bleed. However, problems remain with regard to the identification and optimal treatment of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Several important studies and consensus documents on the condition have recently been published which aid in the identification of patients at risk and help to guide therapy. In this review, we discuss these publications and address the issues of diagnosis, treatment and both primary and secondary prophylaxis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in the light of recent data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mowat
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Stanley
mesh_terms: D000418:Albumins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001201:Ascites / Q000188:drug therapy; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents