Study on Ascitic Fluid Culture and Antimicrobial Sensitivity Profile in Cirrhotic Patients admitted in a Medical College Hospital

Background: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is a fatal complication of liver cirrhosis. Ascitic fluid culture is positive in half of the cases. Materials and methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted upon the patients admitted in Medicine ward of VIMS, Pawapuri. Bacterial examination of ascitic fluid, culture and antibiotic sensitivity was done. Results: 47.2% of SBP cases were culture positive. E. coli (46.2%), Klebsiella (26.9%), Acinetobacter (7.7%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3.8%) were the common organisms isolated. Conclusion: As half of SBP cases have positive culture, ascitic fluid culture and antibiotic sensitivity testing is essential in such cases.