Chapter 363 Peritonitis
Clinically, patients have abdominal pain, abdominal tenderness, and rigidity on exam. Peritonitis can result from rupture of a hollow viscus, such as the appendix or a Meckel diverticulum; disruption of the peritoneum from trauma or peritoneal dialysis catheter; chemical peritonitis from other bodily fluid, including bile and urine; and infection. Meconium peritonitis is described in Chapters 96.1 and 322. Peritonitis is considered a surgical emergency and requires exploration and lavage of the abdomen except in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.
363.1 Acute Primary Peritonitis
Chavez-Tapia NC, Soares-Weiser K, et al: Antibiotics for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic patients. Cochrane Database Syst Rev (1):CD002232, 2009.
Garcia-Tsao G. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: a historical perspective. J Hepatology. 2004;41:522-527.
Runyon BA. Early events in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Gut. 2004;53:782-784.
Saab S, Hernandez JC, Chi AC, et al. Oral antibiotic prophylaxis reduces spontaneous bacterial peritonitis occurrence and improves short-term survival in cirrhosis: a meta-analysis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2009;104(4):993-1001.
363.2 Acute Secondary Peritonitis
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Goffin E, Herbiet L, Pouthier D, et al. Vancomycin and ciprofloxacin: Systemic antibiotic administration for peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis. Perit Dial Int. 2004;24:433-439.
Malangoni MA. Current concepts in peritonitis. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2003;5:295-301.
Piraino B. New insights on preventing and managing peritonitis. Pediatr Nephrol. 2004;19:125-127.