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🫄 Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis (SBP) Diagnosis & Treatment

UseUse to confirm SBP at PMN ≥ 250/mm³, choose empiric antibiotics by setting, add albumin to reduce hepatorenal…

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SourceEuropean Association for the Study of the Liver. EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines for the manageme…

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Methodology · worked example, guidelines & full notes
Clinical takeaway

Albumin alongside antibiotics is most beneficial when creatinine > 1 mg/dL, BUN > 30, or bilirubin > 4, where it reduces hepatorenal syndrome and death. (original synthesis · not guideline verbatim)

When to use

Use to confirm SBP at PMN ≥ 250/mm³, choose empiric antibiotics by setting, add albumin to reduce hepatorenal syndrome, and decide secondary prophylaxis.

How it works

PMN ≥ 250/mm³ → SBP. Community → cefotaxime/ceftriaxone; nosocomial/high-resistance → broad-spectrum per local resistance. Albumin 1.5 g/kg day 1 + 1 g/kg day 3. Prior history → long-term quinolone prophylaxis.

Key points

  • Albumin alongside antibiotics is most beneficial when creatinine > 1 mg/dL, BUN > 30, or bilirubin > 4, where it reduces hepatorenal syndrome and death. (original synthesis · not guideline verbatim)
  • A 48 h ascitic-PMN recheck assesses response; an insufficient drop prompts adjustment or exclusion of secondary peritonitis.
  • Non-selective β-blockers are stopped in hypotensive or refractory SBP.

References

Worked calculation

The values below come from this tool's own example placeholders and are computed server-side with the formula shown on this page, so the arithmetic can be checked quickly. It demonstrates how to substitute values only — it is not clinical advice and not a real case.

Ascitic-fluid neutrophils (PMN)≥ 250/mm³ (confirms SBP)
Acquisition settingCommunity-acquired
Prior SBP historyPresent

→DispositionEmpiric antibiotics + albumin

  • Diagnosis:Ascitic PMN ≥ 250/mm³ (with or without positive culture) diagnoses SBP; all hospitalized cirrhotic ascites or suspected infection should have diagnostic paracentesis, bedside inoculation of ≥ 10 mL ascites into blood-culture bottles plus blood cultures, without waiting for results
  • Antibiotics:Community-acquired: third-generation cephalosporin (cefotaxime 2 g q8h, or ceftriaxone) first-line; course usually and until ascitic PMN < 250, recheck ascitic PMN at 48 h to assess response (insufficient drop needs adjustment or exclusion of secondary peritonitis)
  • Albumin:1.5 g/kg on diagnosis day + 1 g/kg on day 3 (especially creatinine > 1 mg/dL, BUN > 30, or bilirubin > 4), reducing hepatorenal syndrome and mortality
Ascitic-fluid neutrophils (PMN)< 250/mm³
Acquisition settingNosocomial / recent antibiotics / high resistance risk
Prior SBP historyAbsent

→DiagnosisPMN < 250: does not support SBP

  • Interpretation:Ascitic neutrophils (PMN) < 250/mm³: does not meet SBP criteria; correlate clinically to seek another infection source, repeat paracentesis if needed
  • Caveat:With strong clinical suspicion (fever, abdominal pain/tenderness, encephalopathy, or renal injury), empiric treatment may still be given with ascitic + blood cultures sent; a positive culture with PMN < 250 is monomicrobial non-neutrocytic bacterascites, individualized
  • Basis:AASLD/EASL guidelines on cirrhotic ascites and SBP
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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What are the limits and cautions when using Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis (SBP) Diagnosis & Treatment?
For licensed clinicians and clinical researchers. Interpret results with history, investigations and local protocols; not a diagnosis or prescription, and not a substitute for multidisciplinary decision-making or local guidelines.
Does Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis (SBP) Diagnosis & Treatment upload patient data? Where is it calculated?
Calculation runs locally in the browser; inputs and results are not uploaded. For licensed clinicians only; interpret with history, investigations and local protocols — not a diagnosis or prescription.
How is Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis (SBP) Diagnosis & Treatment calculated in practice? Can you show a worked example?
Inputs: Ascitic-fluid neutrophils (PMN) ≥ 250/mm³ (confirms SBP), Acquisition setting Community-acquired, Prior SBP history Present → Result: Disposition Empiric antibiotics + albumin(Diagnosis: Ascitic PMN ≥ 250/mm³ (with or without positive culture) diagnoses SBP; all hospitalized cirrhotic ascites or suspected infection should have diagnostic paracentesis, bedside inoculation of ≥ 10 mL ascites into blood-culture bottles plus blood cultures, without waiting for results, Antibiotics: Community-acquired: third-generation cephalosporin (cefotaxime 2 g q8h, or ceftriaxone) first-line; course usually and until ascitic PMN < 250, recheck ascitic PMN at 48 h to assess response (insufficient drop needs adjustment or exclusion of secondary peritonitis), Albumin: 1.5 g/kg on diagnosis day + 1 g/kg on day 3 (especially creatinine > 1 mg/dL, BUN > 30, or bilirubin > 4), reducing hepatorenal syndrome and mortality) Inputs: Ascitic-fluid neutrophils (PMN) < 250/mm³, Acquisition setting Nosocomial / recent antibiotics / high resistance risk, Prior SBP history Absent → Result: Diagnosis PMN < 250: does not support SBP(Interpretation: Ascitic neutrophils (PMN) < 250/mm³: does not meet SBP criteria; correlate clinically to seek another infection source, repeat paracentesis if needed, Caveat: With strong clinical suspicion (fever, abdominal pain/tenderness, encephalopathy, or renal injury), empiric treatment may still be given with ascitic + blood cultures sent; a positive culture with PMN < 250 is monomicrobial non-neutrocytic bacterascites, individualized, Basis: AASLD/EASL guidelines on cirrhotic ascites and SBP)
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