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BACKGROUND AND AIMS. In cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) higher polymorphonuclear (PMN) count in ascitic fluid have been reported in infections caused by Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) as opposed to Gram-positive cocci (GPC). However, the influence of other associated factors on the PMN count, such as the specific microorganism causing the episode of SBP, has not been well established. METHODS. Retrospective observational study of 194 episodes of positive ascitic and/or blood culture SBP in 159 patients with liver cirrhosis (2001-2009). Parameters associated with PMN count in ascitic fluid at diagnosis were evaluated. RESULTS. The multivariate analysis (model 1) showed that a virulent etiology of the infection [coefficient 3.941 (95% confidence interval (95 CI): 0.421-7.461)] and the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score [coefficient 0.196 (95 CI: 0.007-0.384)] were positively associated with the PMN count in ascites, while a nosocomial acquisition was inversely associated [coefficient -3.546 (95 CI: -6.855 - -0.238)]. A nonsignificant trend toward higher PMN count was found in GNB versus GPC, but there were differences between groups of microorganisms: pyogenic streptococci [median (p25-p75): 3211 (1615-8004)], Enterobacteriaceae [2958 (917-7690)], Vibrionaceae [9215 (375-17280)], nonfermenting GNB [1384 (565-3865)], viridans group streptococci [1044 (503-2354)] and enterococci [1050 (476-4655)](p = 0.005). No clear cut-offs of ascitic PMN count predicting a particular etiology could be calculated out of these data. CONCLUSIONS. In cirrhotic patients with SBP, the causing microorganism, the place of acquisition of the infection and the host liver condition were the main factors determining PMN count in ascitic fluid. Third-generation cephalosporin resistance was associated with low PMN count probably because this group included bacteria with inherent low virulence.

Background & Aims: The recent emergence of third-generation cephalosporin resistance in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is of great concern, although neither the risk factors for resistance nor its real impact on mortality have been well defined., Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of all spontaneous bacterial peritonitis episodes with positive blood and/or ascitic culture at our center (2001-2009). Episodes were classified according to the place of acquisition: community, healthcare system, or nosocomial., Results: Two hundred and forty-six episodes were analyzed in 200 patients (150 males, 57.3 years): 34.6% community-acquired, 38.6% healthcare system-acquired, and 26.8% nosocomially-acquired. Third-generation cephalosporin resistance occurred in 21.5% (7.1% community-acquired, 21.1% healthcare system-acquired, 40.9% nosocomially-acquired). These resistant cases were categorized as extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Gram-negative bacilli, other resistant Gram-negative bacilli, and Enterococci. Risk factors for resistance were previous use of cephalosporins, diabetes mellitus, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, nosocomial acquisition, and a low polymorphonuclear count in ascites. Regarding third-generation cephalosporin resistance, adequate empirical treatment was 80.7%. Independent predictors of mortality were nosocomial acquisition, poor hepato-renal function, immunosuppressive therapy, a marked inflammatory response during the episode and either third-generation cephalosporin-resistance or low rates of adequate empirical treatment., Conclusions: The risk of third-generation cephalosporin resistance was particularly high in nosocomially-acquired episodes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, but also occurred in healthcare system-acquired cases. The extent of resistance and the adequacy of empirical antibiotics had a significant effect on mortality along with the patient's hepato-renal function. These data can help determine the most suitable empirical antimicrobial treatments in these patients., (Copyright © 2011 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: Secondary bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic patients is an uncommon entity that has been little reported. Our aim is to analyse the frequency, clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of patients with secondary peritonitis in comparison to those of patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP)., Methods: Retrospective analysis of 24 cirrhotic patients with secondary peritonitis compared with 106 SBP episodes., Results: Secondary peritonitis represented 4.5% of all peritonitis in cirrhotic patients. Patients with secondary peritonitis showed a significantly more severe local inflammatory response than patients with SBP. Considering diagnosis of secondary peritonitis, the sensitivity of Runyon's criteria was 66.6% and specificity 89.7%, Runyon's criteria and/or polymicrobial ascitic fluid culture were present in 95.6%, and abdominal computed tomography was diagnostic in 85% of patients in whom diagnosis was confirmed by surgery or autopsy. Mortality during hospitalization was higher in patients with secondary peritonitis than in those with SBP (16/24, 66.6% vs. 28/106, 26.4%) (p<0.001). There was a trend to lower mortality in secondary peritonitis patients who underwent surgery (7/13, 53.8%) than in those who received medical treatment only (9/11, 81.8%) (p=0.21). Considering surgically treated patients, the time between diagnostic paracentesis and surgery was shorter in survivors than in non-survivors (3.2+/-2.4 vs. 7.2+/-6.1 days, p=0.31)., Conclusions: Secondary peritonitis is an infrequent complication in cirrhotic patients but mortality is high. A low threshold of suspicion on the basis of Runyon's criteria and microbiological data, together with an aggressive approach that includes prompt abdominal computed tomography and early surgical evaluation, could improve prognosis in these patients.

Background and Aim: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and bacterascites prevalence in asymptomatic cirrhotic patients on large-volume paracentesis is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and bacterascites prevalence in a prospective cohort of cirrhotic outpatients following large-volume paracentesis with low risk of infection., Methods: We prospectively studied all large-volume paracenteses performed in cirrhotic outpatients for 1 year. Patients with fever, abdominal pain, peritonism or hepatic encephalopathy were excluded from the study. The ascitic fluid was analyzed by means of a reagent strip with a colorimetric scale from 0 to 4. A strip test of 0 or 1 was considered negative. In those cases with a reagent strip > or =2, conventional polymorphonuclear count was performed. Ascitic fluid culture was done into blood culture bottles in all cases., Results: We performed 204 paracenteses in 40 patients. Nine cases were excluded. Culture-negative neutrocytic ascites was diagnosed in one case (0.5%), while bacterascites was diagnosed in six out of 195 cases (3%), mainly by gram-positive cocci., Conclusion: The spontaneous bacterial peritonitis prevalence in outpatient cirrhotics with low risk of infection undergoing large-volume paracentesis is very low. Moreover, the prevalence of bacterascites is low and without clinical consequences. The routine analysis of ascitic fluid may be unnecessary in this clinical setting. Nevertheless, the use of reagent strips is a reasonable alternative due to its accessibility and low cost.

We studied the use of reagent strips for diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in cirrhotic patients with ascites. A reagent strip for leukocyte esterase designed for the testing of urine with a colorimetric 5-grade scale (0 to 4) was used to evaluate ascitic fluid in 228 nonselected paracentesis performed in 128 cirrhotic patients. We diagnosed 52 SBP and 5 secondary bacterial peritonitis by means of polymorphonuclear cell count and classical criteria. When we considered positive a reagent strip result of 3 or 4, sensitivity was 89% (51 of 57), specificity was 99% (170 of 171), and positive predictive value was 98%. When we considered positive a reagent strip result of 2 or more, sensitivity was 96% (55 of 57), specificity was 89% (152 of 171), and negative predictive value was 99%. In conclusion, the use of reagent strips is a rapid, easy to use, and inexpensive tool for diagnosis of ascitic fluid infection. A positive result should be an indication for empirical antibiotic therapy, and a negative result may be useful as a screening test to exclude SBP.

Objective: The role of peritoneovenous shunt in the management of refractory ascites has not been clearly established. The aim of this study was to determine readily accessible predictive survival factors in cirrhotic patients with refractory ascites treated with a peritoneovenous shunt. Methods: We studied a cohort of 100 cirrhotic patients with refractory ascites who underwent peritoneovenous-shunt placement in a university-based reference hospital. Results: The estimated median survival of patients after shunt placement was 11 months (95 % CI, 7-14 months). Multivariate analysis based on the proportional hazards model disclosed four independent variables associated with poor survival: high Pugh score, nonalcoholic etiology, low ascitic fluid protein concentration, and history of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Conclusions: Mortality of cirrhotic patients treated with a peritoneovenous shunt can be determined by a prognostic index using four easily available variables. Such a prognostic index, once prospectively validated, could be used as an adjunct in planning treatment of cirrhotic patients with refractory ascites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]