SPONTANEOUS BACTERIAL PERITONITIS;

Objectives: To determine the frequency of culture positive (SBP) and culture negative spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (neutrocytic ascites) in cirrhotic population. Period: The six months (November 08th 2012 to May 07th 2013). Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Gastroenterology at Liaquat National Hospital. Total 107 patients of liver cirrhosis with ascites admitted in our hospital. All the specific patients had ascitic fluid DR and C/S were enrolled and evaluated. Patient’s information was recorded on proforma and analyzed by using SPSS-20.0. Results: SBP was detected in 10 7 patients aged between 18 and 67 years included in study. Out of 107 patients with SBP 23 (21.5%) were culture positive while 84 (78.5%) were culture negative. In the culture positive group,19 (82.6%) were male and 4 (17.4%) were female while in culture negative group 46 (54.76%) were male and 38 (45.24%) were female. The ascitic fluid mean total leukocyte count in patients with culture positive ascites was 5140.39 /mm3 and in culture negative ascites was 2654.26 / mm3. The ascitic fluid mean neutrophils count in subjects with culture positive ascites was 75.57% and in culture negative ascites was 76.02%. The ascitic fluid mean lymphocyte count in individuals had culture positive ascites was 26.09 % and in subjects had culture negative ascites was 23.97%. Conclusion: Frequency of culture negative ascites is greater than culture positive ascites in SBP. The ascitic fluid mean total leucocyte count for culture positive ascites is greater than culture negative ascites. Mortality is high in culture positive ascites.