Predictors of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis among cirrhotic patients with ascites in Dodoma, Tanzania: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a fatal complication which occurs among decompensated cirrhotic patients which is also associated with high morbidity and mortality. Despite the complications of decompensated cirrhotic patients are common and fatal, there is limited information regarding prevalence and predictors of SBP in Tanzania.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of SBP in cirrhotic patients with ascites.

Materials and methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was undertaken in Dodoma city, Tanzania from November 2022 to June 2023.

Results: The present study included a total of 269 patients with median age of 46.0 (IQR = 39.0-53.0) years. The prevalence of SBP in this study was (19.0%, n = 51). Child-Pugh score C, international normalized ratio (>1.5 ± 0.3), and severe ascites were the independent predictors (factors) associated with SBP in this study.

Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that SBP is a health problem of concern among cirrhotic patients. Factors including Child-Pugh C and raised international normalized ratio have shown ability to strongly predict the diagnosis of SBP, and therefore, such factors may be used to stratify cirrhotic patients into high risk and low risk cirrhotic patients for SBP.