Spontaneous Fungal Peritonitis in Egyptian Patients with Cirrhotic Ascites

Abstract

Background: Spontaneous fungal peritonitis in liver cirrhotic patients is considered a serious complication with a grave prognosis. The available data describing this entity are still deficient, however they all stress that early diagnosis and proper management is essential to decrease mortality. Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the incidence, characteristics and predisposing factors of fungal peritonitis in patients with cirrhotic ascites. Methodology: Ascitic fluid samples were collected from 141 Egyptian patients with cirrhotic ascites. Ascetic fluid specimens were subjected to direct microscopic examination, bacterial and fungal culture. Results: Sixty one patients were diagnosed to have spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), eight of them were culture positive SBP and E. coli was the commonest organism to be isolated. A single case of spontaneous fungal peritonitis (SFP) was detected caused by Candida albicans. Child-Pugh C, high MELD score and high bilirubin level might be among the risk factors of development of SFP.