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Table 1 Forms of peritonitis, according to [12]

From: Treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections in the era of multi-drug resistant bacteria

 

Causes of peritonitis

Most common bacterial species

Primary bacterial peritonitis

Peritoneal infection without anatomic barrier disruption; most common in patients with cirrhosis or severe immune dysfunction or early childhood

Gram negative Enterobacteriaceae, Streptococcus spp.

Secondary bacterial peritonitis

Peritoneal infection with perforation of the gut wall and spillage of bacteria into the peritoneal cavity. This peritonitis may be health care associated or community-acquired

Polymicrobial infection with Gram- negative Enterobacteriaceae, Gram- positive Enterococci, Staphylococci and anaerobes

Tertiary peritonitis

Persistent or recurrent infection after "adequate" treatment of primary or secondary peritonitis; most common in patients with severe co-morbidities or compromised immune function

Polymicrobial infections like in secondary peritonitis, but more likely to involve resistant bacteria