Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis among Chronic Liver Disease Patients with Ascites Admitted to the Department of Medicine of a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Chronic liver disease is a common problem worldwide. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is a dreaded complication and has high in-hospital mortality. Few studies have been done about the prevalence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and associated clinical and biochemical features in a hospital-based population. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in chronic liver disease patients with ascites admitted to Department of Medicine in a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done among patients with chronic liver disease with ascites admitted to the Department of Medicine of a tertiary care centre between 18 March 2021 to 28 February 2022 after receiving ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: PMM2103161493). Convenience sampling method was used. Diagnostic paracentesis was done in every such patient. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated. Results: Among 157 patients, the prevalence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis was 46 (29.29%) (22.17-36.41, 95% Confidence Interval). The most common presenting symptom was pain abdomen seen in 29 (63.04%). Conclusions: The prevalence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in chronic liver disease patients with ascites was similar to studies done in similar settings. Clinicians should be aware that it can present with or without abdominal pain.