Culture negative neutrocytic ascites versus culture positive spontaneous bacterial peritonitis; Is there a Difference; A Multi-Centric Study

Abstract

Background: There are two variants of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) include, culture negative neutrocytic ascites (CNNA) and culture positive SBP. Some suggested that, the clinical presentation of two variants is nearly similar, however, other reported that, patients with culture positive have a more severe course and higher mortality than CNNA. The aim of this study is to determine the clinical characteristics and predictors of CNNA in comparison to culture positive SBP. Materials and methods: This study included 300 consecutive patients with HCV related cirrhotic ascites. All patients underwent abdominal paracentesis and the ascitic fluid was processed for cell count and culture. Clinical and laboratory parameters of these patients were recorded at index admission.. Results: Out of 300 patients included in the study, 150 patients had SBP. Among the 150 patients with SBP, 100 patients were culture positive SBP (culture positive SBP with ascitic fluid PMNL ≥250 cells/m3) and 50 patients were CNNA (culture negative SBP with ascitic fluid PMNL ≥250 cells/m3). Compared to patients with culture positive SBP, patients with CNNA showed, a significant decrease as regards, fever, prevalence of DM, hepatic encephalopathy, platelets, blood PMNL and ascetic PMNL. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that, decreased platelets count, blood PMNL and ascetic PMNL were independent predictor factors for CNNA. Conclusion:Patients with CNNA have a lower incidence of fever, prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hepatic encephalopathy, blood PMNL and ascetic PMNL versus culture positive SBP. Independent predictors of culture negative SBP are decreased platelets, blood PMNL and ascetic PMNL.