title: Development of an experimental model of induced bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic rats with or without ascites.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a severe complication of cirrhotic patients associated with a high mortality.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To develop an available experimental model of induced bacterial peritonitis in cirrhosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sprague-Dawley rats with carbon-tetrachloride-induced cirrhosis with (N=22) or without (N=101) ascites were randomized to receive an intraperitoneal administration of different concentrations of Escherichia coli (E. coli) diluted in 1 mL of sterile water in ascitic rats and in different volumes in nonascitic rats. A subgroup of nonascitic animals received ceftriaxone 4 h after E. coli inoculation. Mortality of rats was evaluated 24 h after bacterial inoculation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the rats receiving sterile water alone and only one infected with 10(7) cfu of E. coli died. Ascitic rats showed a lower mortality rate than nonascitic rats infected with 10(8) or 10(9) cfu of E. coli (P<0.05). Mortality was higher with 10(9) cfu than with 10(8) cfu of E. coli in ascitic (P NS) and nonascitic (P<0.01) rats. A trend was noted to ward higher mortality in nonascitic rats inoculated with 10(8) cfu with increasing water volumes. A marked peritoneal polymorphonuclear cell response was observed 4 h after E. coli injection in both ascitic and nonascitic rats. Antibiotic therapy significantly reduced the mortality rate of rats infected with 10(8) cfu (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This experimental model of induced bacterial peritonitis in cirrhosis with or without ascites may represent a useful tool for the study of pathogenic events postinfection and for the design of new therapeutic strategies to treat patients with SBP.
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Autonomous University, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Elisabet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Such
authors.forename: Maite Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Chiva
authors.forename: Germán
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soriano
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Llovet
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mercè
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sancho
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Xiao-yu
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez-Mateo
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Balanzó
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guarner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001201:Ascites / Q000150:complications*; D001424:Bacterial Infections; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000209:etiology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002443:Ceftriaxone; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride