What is Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis?

Bacterial infections are a leading cause of health concern among adults in the United States. While we typically believe we are immune to everyday bacterial infections, the fact remains that many adults have less-than-optimal immune systems. Because our immune systems are suppressed, we are often subject to rare bacterial complications including the risk for developing spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Peritonitis is a health condition that is life threatening and leads to long term health conditions if not treated promptly. The peritoneum is a lining of the abdominal wall that, when infected by bacteria, can not only adversely affect abdominal health but also lead to complications involving digestion, heart health, colon health, and even kidney and liver health.

When suffering from severe stomach pain, complications with indigestion, complications with diarrhea, vomiting, and even poor liver or kidney health, there may be a risk that you are suffering from a spontaneous bacterial infection. To determine if you have spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, your doctor may recommend not only blood tests to determine what, if any, bacteria are present but also request sonogram of the abdomen to determine, to what extent, there is inflammation and swelling in the peritoneum.

Once confirmed as suffering from spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, most patients will require hospitalization to administer IV antibiotic therapy. While you may not be interested in hospital admission, it is necessary to combat the infection in lieu or oral antibiotics which can only further cause harm to the peritoneum. In most patients, symptoms resolve much quicker when treated with IV antibiotic therapy.

Inflammation and bacterial infection, of any type, should be treated promptly so as to avoid life threatening health complications. If you are suffering from complications involving bloating and pain in your abdominal region, always seek out medical attention as you may be suffering from this form of bacterial fight - one that involves complication of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Sources: Bacterial Pathogenesis, by Frank DeLeo