Bacterial infections are common and life-threatening in cirrhotic patients with ascites.
Among patients who survived the first episode of SBP, about 70% experienced a recurrence
within a year. Bacterial causative agent(s) and response to treatment were evaluated in 104 decompensated
cirrhotic patients with ascites who were presented to Tropical Medicine Department,
Ain Shams University Hospitals from February 2019 to June 2022 were evaluated for
incidence of SBP, bacterial causative agent(s) and response to treatment. They were divided
into two groups: GA received Rifaximin (N=52) and GB received Norfloxacin (N=52), Diagnostic
paracentesis was done as needed for ascitic fluid analysis and culture, clinical and bacteriological
profile of SBP was recorded.
The results showed that the ascitic fluid infection in patients was 28.8% in both group, with
symptoms of abdominal pain (100%) and fever (63.3%). Culture negative neutrocytic ascites
(CNNA) was in 63.33%, Monomicrobial non neutrocytic bacterascites was in 33.3% and
polymicrobial ones was in 3.33%. The isolated bacteria were E. coli and Staph. coagulase
negative, of 30 % in each group.