When is inpatient treatment indicated for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP)?

Answer

Patients with a peritoneal fluid PMN count greater than 500 cells/µL should universally be admitted and treated for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, regardless of peritoneal fluid Gram stain result. Antibiotics should be initiated as soon as possible. The regimen can be chosen empirically, unless microbiologic studies further guide treatment. Evidence supports early antibiotic administration (combined with early diagnostic paracentesis) to help reduce ICU and hospital length of stay, in-hospital mortality, and 3-month mortality.^{[11, 12]}

A retrospective study by Mazer et al showed that patients who received ceftriaxone 2 grams daily (as opposed to 1 gram daily) had fewer ICU days and may have improved survival.^[26]

For patients with a peritoneal fluid PMN count below 250 cells/µL, management depends upon the results of ascitic fluid cultures. All symptomatic patients should be admitted. Patients whose culture results are positive should be treated for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. A select subset of patients who are completely asymptomatic yet have positive culture results may be managed without treatment but must undergo a follow-up paracentesis within 24-48 hours.

All symptomatic patients with a peritoneal fluid PMN count of 250-500 cells/µL should be admitted and treated for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

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When is inpatient treatment indicated for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP)?

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