Spontaneous Bacterial PeritonitisSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis
The peritoneum is the thin tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen and covers most of the organs in the abdomen. Peritonitis is present when this tissue becomes inflamed or infected.
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is present when this tissue becomes infected and there is no clear cause.
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP); Ascites - peritonitis; Cirrhosis - peritonitis
SBP is most often caused by infection in fluid that collects in the peritoneal cavity (ascites). The fluid buildup often occurs in people with advanced liver or kidney disease.
Risk factors for liver disease include:
- Very heavy alcohol use
- Chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C
- Other diseases that lead to cirrhosis
SBP also occurs in people who are on peritoneal dialysis for kidney failure.
Peritonitis may have other causes in which case it is called secondary peritonitis. These include infection from other organs or leakage of enzymes or other toxins into the abdomen.
Symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain and bloating
- Abdominal tenderness
- Fever
- Low urine output
Other symptoms include:
- Chills
- Joint pain
- Nausea and vomiting
Treatment depends on the cause of the SBP.
- Surgery may be needed if SBP is caused by a foreign object, such as a catheter used in peritoneal dialysis.
- Antibiotics to control infection.
- Fluids given through the veins.
You will need to stay in the hospital so health care providers can rule out other causes such as a ruptured appendix and diverticulitis.
Northwell Health Physician Partners Sandra Atlas Bass Center For Liver Diseases
Dr. Sanjaya K. Satapathy is the medical director of the Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation at the Northwell Transplant Institute, program director of Northwell's Transplant Hepatology Fellowship, and professor of medicine at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.His path to medicine began in India, where he was inspired by his father an engineer with a passion for homeopathy to pursue a career in healthcare. He earned his medical degree from Veer Surendra Sai Medical College, followed by fellowship training in gastroenterology and hepatology in the early 2000s. During that time, he witnessed the profound need for liver transplantation in India, where access remained scarce.While presenting his research at a conference in the United States, Dr. Satapathy was drawn to the opportunities and possibilities for advancing transplantation in America. He decided to continue his career in the United States, completing additional residency and fellowship training before serving as a transplant hepatologist in Memphis. In 2019, he was recruited to Northwell.It was a dream to begin from zero and build a transplant program that could be a model not just for the area or the state, but for the country, says Dr. Satapathy. Within only a few years, we've been able to achieve that goal, because Northwell has all the elements and resources to be one of the best programs in the nation. The expertise we have is unparalleled, with a collaborative team that encompasses all levels of care.The program was founded just in time for a huge surge in demand for liver transplants in the area, he adds. Liver disease and other liver issues are on the rise, making the need for an extensive program crucial for those in the New York region. Part of the program's strength is innovation. For example, Northwell is utilizing an approach that allows donated organs to be safely preserved for a longer period of time, which means needed organs can travel longer distances even from as far away as Hawaii. Northwell is also running several clinical trials on transplant medications and operates a robust transplant hepatology fellowship program to train the next generation of doctors a program Dr. Satapathy launched.I'm passionate about this work, and particularly about my patients, he says. I see every patient as my family, and my focus is on what I can do next to help them. Dr. Satapathy is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis. His top areas of expertise are Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Hepatitis, Liver Transplant, and Endoscopy.
Ulrich Spengler practices in Bonn, Germany. Mr. Spengler is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis. His top areas of expertise are Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis, Secondary Peritonitis, and Liver Transplant.
Mattias Mandorfer is a Hepatologist in Vienna, Austria. Mr. Mandorfer is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis. His top areas of expertise are Portal Hypertension, Ascites, Cirrhosis, Liver Transplant, and Endoscopy.
In most cases, the infection can be treated. However, kidney or liver disease may limit recovery.
Complications may include:
- Loss of brain function occurs when the liver is unable to remove toxins from the blood.
- Kidney problem caused by liver failure.
- Sepsis.
Contact your provider if you have symptoms of peritonitis. This can be a medical emergency situation.
Steps should be taken to prevent infection in people with peritoneal catheters.
Long-term antibiotics may be used:
- To prevent peritonitis from coming back in people with liver failure
- To prevent peritonitis in people who have acute gastrointestinal bleeding due to other conditions
Summary: Among critically ill patients, many die, and many of the survivors and their family members struggle for years with reduced quality of life. Critically ill patients are treated in intensive care units (ICUs). Here, they receive life support, e.g., mechanical ventilation and advanced support of the circulation (heart and blood vessels) and kidneys. In addition, ICU patients receive many other treat...
Summary: The liver, a key organ for metabolism and synthesis, is involved in protein, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism, as well as energy production. Hepatic injury and functional decline can lead to metabolic abnormalities in these three major nutrients, as well as in vitamins and trace elements. Malnutrition, one of the most common complications in cirrhosis patients, has a broader impact than traditiona...
Published Date: June 11, 2024
Published By: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Aria - Jefferson Health Torresdale, Jefferson Digestive Diseases Network, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Garcia-Tsao G. Cirrhosis and its sequelae. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 139.
Kuemmerle JF. Inflammatory and anatomic diseases of the intestine, peritoneum, mesentery, and omentum. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 128.
Sola E, Gines P. Ascites and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 93.