Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis due to Streptococcus constellatus in an HIV-positive patients

Liver diseases are an important cause of high morbidity and mortality in HI V-infected Patients, and liver cirrhosis is the commonest cause of ascites in this population, We describe the case of a 38-year-old HIV-positive male (CDC stage B3, CD4 cell count 199/mm(3)) with a history of hepatitis C-ass ociated liver cirrhosis. Following pneumonia he developed spontaneous bacte rial peritonitis due to Streptococcus constellatus. Clinically noticeable w as the gradually worsening course with few symptoms, despite the initially high ascitic fluid leucocyte count of over 11000/mu l, but a favourable res ponse to betalactam antibiotics.