Microbiology and resistance in first episodes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: implications for management and prognosis

J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2016 Jun;31(6):1191-5. doi: 10.1111/jgh.13266.

Abstract

Purpose: International guidelines for antibiotic treatment of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) are based on studies conducted decades ago and do not reflect regional differences of bacterial epidemiology.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed epidemiology of agents, antibiotic resistance patterns, and survival in liver cirrhosis patients with their first episode of SBP during the years 2007-2013.

Results: Of the 311 patients included, 114 patients had a positive ascites culture, and 197 had an ascitic neutrophil count >250 μL. Gram-positive bacteria (47.8%) were more frequently found than Gram-negatives (44.9%), fungi in 7.2%. Enterobacter spp. (40.6%), Enterococcus spp. (26.1%), and Staphylcoccus spp. (13.8%) were the most frequently isolated agents. Third-generation cephalosporins covered 70.2% of non-nosocomial and 56.3% of nosocomial-acquired SBP cases.When SBP was diagnosed by a positive ascitic culture, survival was highly significantly reduced (mean: 13.9 ± 2.9 months; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.1-19.8) compared with culture-negative SBP patients (mean: 44.1 ± 5.4 months; 95% CI: 33.4-54.9; P = 0.000). Along with model of end-stage liver disease score and intensive care unit contact, a positive ascites culture remained an independent risk factor associated with poor survival (odds ratio: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.09-2.03) in multivariate analysis; piperacillin/tazobactam proved to be an adequate antibiotic for nosocomial and non-nosocomial SBP in 85.1% and 92.5%, respectively. SBP infection with Enterococcus spp. was associated with poor patient survival (P = 0.048).

Conclusions: Third-generation cephalosporins have poor microbial coverage for treatment of SBP. Current guidelines need to adapt for the emerging number of Gram-positive infectious agents in SBP patients.

Keywords: Gram-positive SBP; antibiotic resistance; culture-positive SBP; spontaneous bacterial peritonitis; third-generation cephalosporins.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Ascitic Fluid / microbiology
  • Bacterial Infections / diagnosis
  • Bacterial Infections / drug therapy*
  • Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Bacterial Infections / mortality
  • Community-Acquired Infections / diagnosis
  • Community-Acquired Infections / drug therapy*
  • Community-Acquired Infections / microbiology
  • Community-Acquired Infections / mortality
  • Cross Infection / diagnosis
  • Cross Infection / drug therapy*
  • Cross Infection / microbiology
  • Cross Infection / mortality
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial*
  • Female
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Hospital Bed Capacity
  • Hospitals, University
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Liver Cirrhosis / complications*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / diagnosis
  • Liver Cirrhosis / mortality
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Neutrophils
  • Odds Ratio
  • Peritonitis / diagnosis
  • Peritonitis / drug therapy*
  • Peritonitis / microbiology
  • Peritonitis / mortality
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents