title: Bedside diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis using reagent strips.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy of reagent strip for bedside diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analytical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Shaikh Zayed Postgraduate Medical Institute from November 2003 to August 2004.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with cirrhosis and ascites underwent diagnostic paracentesis. Fluid was checked for leukocyte esterase released by PMN by using Combur 10 urine strip and graded for color change from 0-3. Fluid was also analyzed by cytology for PMN count. Results of both methods were compared to determine sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of strip for diagnosis of SBP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 214 paracentesis performed, SBP was diagnosed in 38 patients whereas 176 were negative for infection. Strip test was 97.7% sensitive and 89.4% specific with positive predictive value of 90%, negative predictive value of 97.7% and accuracy of 96.2%, when reagent strip grade 3 was considered as positive for diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reagent strip is a quick bedside test, highly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of SBP, based on polymorphonuclear count in ascitic fluid, to initiate early treatment, thus improving patient's outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shaikh Zayed Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore. nawalshahid@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Shahid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarwar
authors.forename: Altaf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: Mateen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Izhar
authors.forename: Anwaar A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Arshad Kamal
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Butt
authors.forename: Farzana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shafqat
authors.forename: Kashif
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Aamir Khan
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Niazi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic