[Spontaneous peritonitis due to Clostridium perfringens in three patients with cirrhosis (author's transl)]

Three cases of spontaneous peritonitis due to Clostridium perfringens in cirrhotic patients with a fatal outcome are reported. The diagnosis was made clinically in two patients and by post-mortem examination in the third. One patient had elevated values of serum alpha-fetoprotein. These cases are compared with three other reported cases in the literature. Blood cultures were negative in the three patients, a fact that lends support to the theory of transmural migration of bacteria. In the authors' experience C. perfringens is the third most frequent agent responsible for spontaneous peritonitis in cirrhosis, preceded by E. coli and Streptococcus and followed by Klebsiella, a surprising fact given the scarce number of reported cases. Routine abdominal paracentesis is recommended in any cirrhotic patient with ascites, followed by appropriate antibiotic treatment whenever positive cultures are obtained. The efficacy of treatment is probably doubtful. The literature on antibiotic treatment of spontaneous peritonitis in cirrhosis is reviewed.