SPONTANEOUS BACTERIAL PERITONITIS - AN UPDATE ON EVALUATION, MANAGEMENT, AND PREVENTION

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a serious complication in p atients with cirrhotic ascites. Greater understanding of the pathogene sis and risk factors for the development of SBP recently has improved our ability to prevent and treat the infection. The decreased threshol d for performing diagnostic paracentesis in cirrhotic patients coupled with the use of non-nephrotoxic antibiotics have resulted in decreasi ng mortality rates for patients with SBP. Despite these advances, recu rrence is common and often fatal. Thus, the prevention of SBP by diure sis and oral antibiotic prophylaxis has recently been studied. This re view summarizes the recent developments in SBP, with an emphasis on pa tient management and prevention of SBP.