Peritonitis classification

Peritonitis Main Page
Patient Information
Overview
Causes
Classification Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis Secondary Peritonitis
Differential Diagnosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Shivani Chaparala M.B.B.S [2]

Overview

Peritonitis may be classified according to the etiology into 3 subtypes: primary, secondary, and tertiary peritonitis.

Classification

Classification Based on Etiology

Peritonitis is classified based on the etiology as follows:

Peritonitis

Primary peritonitis

Secondary peritonitis

Tertiary peritonitis

❑ Spontaneous peritonitis ❑ Peritonitis in patients with CAPD ❑ Tuberculous peritonitis

❑ Peritonitis without evidence for pathogens ❑ Peritonitis with fungi ❑ Peritonitis with low-grade pathogenic bacteria

Acute perforation peritonitis ❑ Gastrointestinal perforation ❑ Intestinal ischemia ❑ Pelviperitonitis and other forms

Postoperative peritonitis ❑ Anastomotic leak ❑ Accidental perforation and devascularization

Post-traumatic peritonitis ❑ After blunt abdominal trauma ❑ After penetrating abdominal trauma

Classification Based on Ascitic Fluid Analysis

Peritonitis is classified as follows based ascitic fluid analysis:

Varient of Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP)	Ascitic fluid analysis and other information
SBP culture postive	PMNs ≥250 cells/mm3 and culture positivity Patients with cirrhosis and ascites in the presence or absence of symptoms and signs
Culture-negative neutrocytic ascites(CNNA) or culture-negative SBP	PMNs ≥250 cells/mm3 and culture negativity Poor culture technique and prior antibiotics or low opsonic activity in ascitic fluid. Commonly encountered phenotype and requires antibiotic therapy
Monomicrobial bacterascites	PMNs <250 cells/mm3 and culture positivity Ascitic fluid infection which may resolve spontaneously or progress to SBP. Similar mortality to SBP and should be treated the same
Other varieties of ascitic fluid infections	Ascitic fluid analysis and other information
Polymicrobial bacterascites	PMNs <250 cells/mm3 and culture positivity Needle perforation
Secondary peritonitis	PMNs ≥250 cells/mm3 and culture positivity Intraperitoneal source of infection, e.g. diverticulitis