SPONTANEOUS BACTERIAL PERITONITIS - CLINICAL-STUDY, MICROBIOLOGICAL FINDINGS AND CLINICAL COURSE

One hundred and forty-four episodes of spontaneous bacterial peritonit is (SEP) treated in our service between July 1988 and September 1995 w ere studied retrospectively to assess the clinical presentation, micro biological findings, possible pathogens, treatment and course. Ascites , abdominal pain and fever were the most common symptoms, Only 3.5% of cases were asymptomatic, The outcome was fatal in 12 (8.33%), Among t he factors analyzed, only a prothrombin time of less than 35% correlat ed significantly with a higher mortality rate (60% and 8.33%, respecti vely; p < 0.01). Ascitic fluid culture was positive in 43.05% of cases ; significant differences existed between these patients and those wit h negative ascitic fluid culture with respect to clinical findings or course, Cram-negative microorganisms were those most frequently isolat ed (48.38%). Treatment was initiated within 12 hours in 77.7% of the p atients, between 12 and 72 hours in 11.8% and later in 10.41%, Intrave nous cefotaxime was administered in 86.1% of cases and other drugs or drug combinations in only 13.9%; the mortality rate was much lower wit h cefotaxime (2.4% vs 45%; p < 0.01).