Clinical features, microbial spectrum, and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic patients

Abstract

Background and aims: The microbial spectrum and antimicrobial resistance patterns change over time and vary across regions in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). There is an urgent need to clarify the factors associated with in-hospital mortality in these patients.

Methods: In this study, 377 patients with SBP and 794 patients with bacterascites were analyzed for the microbial spectrum, antimicrobial resistance profiles, and laboratory findings.

Results: The most common pathogens were Escherichia coli (96, 25.5%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (55, 14.6%), and Enterococcus faecium (42, 11.1%). Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria comprised 49.7% of gram-positive bacteria (GPB) and 48.8% of gram-negative bacteria (GNB). The most sensitive antibiotics were amikacin (91.5%), meropenem (89.8%) and piperacillin/tazobactam (87.6%). Extensively drug-resistant (XDR) (OR=51.457, p < 0.001), neutrophil count (OR=1.088, p < 0.001), and the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score (OR=1.124, p < 0.001) were independent predictive factors of in-hospital mortality in patients with SBP.

Conclusion: MDR represented nearly half of the bacteria isolated from patients with SBP, of which the high prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing and Carbapenem-resistant bacteria is concerning. The presence of XDR, higher MELD score, and neutrophil count were independent predictive factors associated with higher in-hospital mortality in patients with SBP, indicating that intensive care should be provided to these patients.

Keywords: Antibiotic sensitivity; Drug resistant bacteria; Liver cirrhosis; Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.