RESUMEN
In an attempt to determine the optimal duration of therapy in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, 50 patients who met the strict criteria for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis [SBP] or culture negative neutrocytic ascites, were randomized into two equal groups to receive single 3rd generation cephalosporin antibiotic Cefoperazone 2g in every 12 hours for short vs long course treatment of 5 and 10 days respectively. Empiric therapy was started before the results of ascitic fluid culture were available. Infection related mortality [4%], hospitalization mortality [41.2%], bacteriologic cure [86%] and recurrence of ascitic fluid infection [12%] were not significantly different among both the treatment groups. Recurrence rates were comparable to the values reported in literature. However, the cost of antibiotic treatment was significantly lower in the first group of short course treatment and it was found as efficacious as long course therapy in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis