Peritonitis - spontaneous

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Peritonitis - spontaneous

Peritonitis is the inflammation of the peritoneum, which is the membrane that lines the abdominal wall and covers the abdominal organs. Spontaneous peritonitis is an infection that occurs as a complication of ascites (a collection of fluid in the peritoneal cavity), which is usually related to liver or kidney failure.

Most cases of bacterial peritonitis occur:

• When fluid accumulates in the peritoneal cavity (ascites) because of chronic liver disease.
• In renal (kidney) failure patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. In these patients, the cause of spontaneous peritonitis is infection that spreads to the peritoneal fluid, usually from a contaminated peritoneal dialysis catheter.

Risk factors for liver disease include alcoholic cirrhosis and other diseases that lead to cirrhosis, such as viral hepatitis (Hepatitis B or C).

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