Bacterial DNA in non-leukocytic ascites, identification of risk factors

Abstract

Background: As culture-dependent bacterial identification methods are still limited to capture colonisation or infection of ascites fluid we established a culture-independent PCR-based method for the detection, quantification and differentiation of bacterial DNA (bactDNA). This report aims to characterize risk factors for bactDNA identification in non-leukocytic ascites fluid (nlAF) and for progression to SBP.