title: Bacteriologic study of cirrhotic patients with non-neutrocytic ascites.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed for detection of bacterial DNA (bactDNA) in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and its prognostic relevance in cirrhotic patients with culture-negative non-neutrocytic ascites (CNNNA).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  approximately 60% of patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) are ascites culture negative.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of each 77 patients with cirrhosis and ascites, two samples including blood and ascitic fluid (AF) were taken. Blood samples were obtained for routine biochemical study and PMN count. AF samples were used for biochemical analysis and aerobic and anaerobic culture. BactDNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using bacterial universal 16srRNA gene primer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of all AF samples, 3 (3.9%) were positive for bacterial culture (one streptococcus α hemolytic and two E.coli). The mean number of PMN in AF was 63. BactDNA was detected in 33 (42.9%) of 77 of samples (group A) and bactDNA was absent in 41 (53.2%) of samples (group B). Blood WBC, prothrombin time, LDH, serum total protein, AF WBC, serum albumin, AF albumin, AF total protein, serum total bilirubin, AST, ALT and BUN were not statically different among group A and B. Hepatitis B, 41(45%), was the most frequent cause of cirrhosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hepatitis B is the common cause of cirrhosis in Iranian cirrhotic patients. Also, current study showed that high number of Iranian cirrhotic patients with CNNNA carries bactDNA in their AF. The clinical findings as well as clinical laboratory data in patients with CNNNA are independent to bactDNA status in their ascitic fluid.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ; Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dabiri
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoumeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azimi Rad
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ramin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tavafzadeh
authors.affiliation: Emam Hossein Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Effat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taheri
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Soudabeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Safakar
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ehsan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nazemalhosseini Mojarad
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ; Psychiatry Department, School of Medicine, University Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Neda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Farzaneh
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Zali
keywords: Ascitic fluid; BactDNA; Cirrhosis; Culture-negative non-neutrocytic ascites; Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis