title: [Primary peritonitis in Sub-Saharian Africa: a 15 case series].
abstract: Primary peritonitis (PP) is an infection of the peritoneal cavity occurring in the absence of a documented intraabdominal source of contamination. It is one of the main infectious complications of cirrhosis but is rare in healthy subjects. The purpose of this retrospective study is to describe a series of 15 cases of PP treated over a 3-year period at the Principal Hospital in Dakar, Senegal. The patient population was young (all but 2 under age of 13 years) and predominantly female (87%) with no predisposing factors. Clinical presentation always involved typical peritonitis. Surgical exploration was performed in all cases by laparotomy (n=13) or laparoscopy (n=2). Intra-operative bacteriologic sampling was performed systematically. Probabilistic antimicrobial therapy was administered in all cases using a triple-drug combination including a cephalosporin or betalactamine, an aminoside and metronidazole. This unconventional combination was designed to allow low-cost wide-spectrum coverage. As in patients with cirrhosis, the most common microbial agents were gram-negative bacteria (47%). Streptococcus pneumoniae was identified in 40% of cases. Infectious ORL and pulmonary sites were suspected in some cases. Although no supporting bacteriologic evidence was obtained, the high frequency of pneumococcal involvement as well as the age and female predominance of the patient population is consistent with contamination via the female genital tract. The cases in this series present unusual epidemiological, clinical and bacteriologic features. In Europe surgical treatment can be avoided thanks to the availability of modern facilities to support further laboratory examinations. In Africa antimicrobial therapy and peritoneal lavage are the mainstay treatments. Use of laparoscopy should be expanded.
authors: Service de chirurgie viscérale, urologique et thoracique, Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées Laveran de Marseille, France. phsavoie@hotmail.fr
authors: P H
authors: PH
authors: Savoie
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Peycru
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Mingoutaud
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Sow
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Biance
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Pauleau
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Garcia
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Farthouat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000453:epidemiology; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000667:Ampicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002435:Cefamandole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005839:Gentamicins; D008795:Metronidazole; D002435:Cefamandole; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; D000667:Ampicillin