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Peritonitis - spontaneous - Treatment

Alternative Names

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP)

Treatment:

Treatment depends on the cause of the peritonitis.

Surgery may be needed if peritonitis is caused by a foreign object, such as a catheter used in peritoneal dialysis.
Antibiotics may control infection in cases of spontaneous peritonitis with liver or kidney disease.
Intravenous therapy can treat dehydration.

You may need to stay in the hospital so health care providers can rule out other causes of peritonitis, such as appendicitis and diverticulitis.

Expectations (prognosis):

The infection can usually be treated. However, kidney or liver disease may limit recovery.

Complications:

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of peritonitis. This can quickly become an emergency situation.

Peritoneal sample

Reviewed last on: 8/22/2008
Christian Stone, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Runyon BA. Ascites and Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Sleisenger MH, eds. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2006: chap 88.

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