Fulminant spontaneous acute bacterial peritonitis in maintenance hemodialysis

Two patients on maintenance hemodialysis therapy developed fulminant spontaneous acute bacterial peritonitis (S.A.B.P.). Both had positive blood cultures and died within a few hours despite intensive antibiotic and supportive therapy. No intra-abdominal source of the peritonitis was found in either case. Though septicemia is an important cause of death in the hemodialyzed patient, this form of presentation (S.A.B.P.) has not been previously reported.