Peritonitis - spontaneous

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Peritoneal sample

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP)

Treatment depends on the cause of the peritonitis. Surgery may be needed in cases where peritonitis is associated with a foreign object, such as a peritoneal dialysis catheter. Antibiotics are administered to control infection in cases of spontaneous peritonitis in patients with liver or kidney disease, and dehydration is treated by intravenous therapy.

Hospitalization is common and may be necessary to rule out other causes of peritonitis such as appendicitis and diverticulitis.

The infection can usually be treated, but the extent of recovery is limited by the patient's underlying kidney or liver disease.

• Abscess development
• Intestinal obstruction from scar tissue
• Hepatorenal syndrome
• Hepatic encephalopathy
• sepsis

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of peritonitis; this can quickly become an emergency situation!

Review Date: 11/14/2006
Reviewed By: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Frankford-Torresdale Hospital, Jefferson Health System, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.