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Peritonitis




Introduction

The peritoneum is a silk-like membrane that lines your inner abdominal wall and covers the organs within your abdomen. Peritonitis is a bacterial or fungal infection of this lining. The infection may come from fluid buildup within the peritoneum, from another infection, inflammation or injury within your body, or it may be a complication of peritoneal dialysis.

Whatever the cause, peritonitis requires prompt medical attention to fight the infection and, if necessary, to treat any underlying medical conditions. Treatment of peritonitis usually involves antibiotics and, in some cases, surgery. If left untreated, peritonitis can lead to severe infection throughout your body, which may become life-threatening.

If you're receiving peritoneal dialysis, you can help prevent peritonitis by following good hygiene before, during and after dialysis.

Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms of peritonitis include:
  • Abdominal pain or tenderness.
  • Bloating or a feeling of fullness in your abdomen (distention).
  • Fever.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Low urine output.
  • Thirst.
  • Inability to pass stool or gas.
  • Chills.
If you're receiving peritoneal dialysis, peritonitis symptoms also include:
  • Cloudy dialysis fluid.
  • White flecks, strands or clumps (fibrin) in the dialysis fluid.
Causes

Infection of the peritoneum can happen for a variety of reasons. Here are the most common causes of peritonitis:
  • Peritoneal dialysis. Dialysis removes waste products and extra fluid from your blood when your kidneys can no longer do so. With peritoneal dialysis, the network of tiny blood vessels in your abdomen (peritoneal cavity) is used to filter your blood. Peritonitis is the most common complication associated with peritoneal dialysis. An infection may occur during peritoneal dialysis due to unclean surroundings, poor hygiene or contaminated equipment.
  • Fluid buildup. Diseases that cause liver damage, such as cirrhosis, can result in a large amount of fluid buildup in your abdominal cavity (ascites). That fluid buildup is susceptible to bacterial infection. This type of peritonitis is called spontaneous peritonitis.
Secondary peritonitis When other medical conditions result in an infection that causes peritonitis, it's referred to as secondary peritonitis. These causes include:
  • A ruptured appendix, stomach ulcer or perforated colon. Any of these conditions can allow bacteria to get into the peritoneum through a hole in your gastrointestinal tract.
  • Pancreatitis. Inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis) complicated by infection may lead to peritonitis if the bacteria spread outside the pancreas.
  • Diverticulitis. Infection of small, bulging pouches in your digestive tract (diverticulitis) may cause peritonitis if one of the pouches ruptures, spilling intestinal waste into your abdomen.
  • Crohn's disease. Bowel wall inflammation is common in people who have Crohn's disease. This inflammation may cause the bowel to rupture, spilling its contents and causing peritonitis.
  • Trauma. Injury or trauma may cause peritonitis by allowing bacteria or chemicals from other parts of your body to enter the peritoneum.
Treatment

To treat peritonitis, your doctor will likely prescribe an antibiotic medication to fight the infection and prevent it from spreading. The type and duration of your antibiotic therapy depend on the severity of your condition and the kind peritonitis you have.

You may need to be hospitalized for peritonitis that's caused by infection from other medical conditions (secondary peritonitis). Surgery is often necessary to remove infected tissue, treat the underlying cause of the infection and prevent the infection from spreading.

If you're undergoing peritoneal dialysis and you have peritonitis, your doctor may recommend you receive dialysis in another way for several days while your body heals from the infection. If peritonitis persists or recurs, you may need to stop having peritoneal dialysis entirely and switch to a different form of dialysis.

Prevention

If you're receiving peritoneal dialysis, take the following steps to prevent peritonitis:
  • Wash your hands before touching the catheter.
  • Clean the area around the catheter with antiseptic every day.
  • Store your supplies in a cool, clean place.
If you've had spontaneous peritonitis before, or if you have peritoneal fluid buildup due to a medical condition such as cirrhosis, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to prevent peritonitis.


Information obtained from National Institute of Health
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