Emergence of gram positive bacteria as a causal agents of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Abstract

It has been suggested that the profile of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis has changed, and severe
infections caused by resistant bacteria species have started to emerge. The aim of this work was to
evaluate the recent changes in bacteria causing spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic patients. In
this study, records of laboratory and ascitic fluid cultures data of 100 cirrhotic patients, with SBP, in the
retrospective period from October 2007 to October 2008 and 120 patients with SBP in the prospective
period from October 2011 to October 2012, were subjected to laboratory tests, ascitic fluid sent for
bacterial culture along with routine biochemical and cytological examination were done. Results showed
that the overall culture positivity rate was higher in prospective study period 39(32.5 %) versus
retrospective period 35(35 %) p>0.05 and the main bacterial isolates were E. coli and
Klebsiellapneumoniae. Gram positive bacteria (GPB) were isolated more frequently in the prospective
than retrospective period 16 (41%) versus 10 (28.6%). Conclusion: There is an emergence of Gram
positive bacteria as a causal agents of SBP.