Bacteremia (Sepsis), Hepatorenal Syndrome, and Serum Creatinine Levels Rather than Types or Microbial Patterns Predicted the Short-Term Survival of Cirrhotic Patients Complicated with Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis

(1) Background: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a major and severe complication in cirrhosis patients with ascites. Over the years, advance in antibiotic treatment has led to changes in microbial patterns in some regions, including the emergence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases resistant (ESBL)-producing bacteria and an increase in Gram-positive bacteria (GPC). In addition, three SBP types (classic SBP, culture-negative neutrophilic ascites (CNNA), and monomicrobial non-neutrocytic bacterascites (MNB)), may also have different prognoses. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the microbial pattern and the predictors of short-term outcomes in patients with SBP. (2) Methods: Patients discharged with a diagnosis of the first episode of SBP between January 2006 and July 2017 were enrolled. Patients' clinical, demographic, hematological, and biochemical data were obtained at diagnosis, and the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD)-based scores were calculated accordingly. Patients were followed up until February 2018 or until death. (3) Results: A total of 327 patients were analyzed. The prevalence of classic SBP was nearly equivalent to CNNA. As for the microbial pattern, Gram-negative bacillus (GNB) remained more prevalent than GPC (75 vs. 25%), with E. coli being the most common bacterial species, followed by K. Pneumoniae and then Staphylococcus. The percentage of ESBL strain in culture-positive patients was 10.9%. By univariable and multivariable logistic regression survival analysis, there was no significant difference in predicting short-term mortality among the three SBP types, neither between GNB vs. GPC nor between ESBL- and non-ESBL-producing bacteria. Only bacteremia (sepsis), hepatorenal syndrome (HRS), and serum creatinine (Cr) were independent predictors of in-hospital and 3-month mortality, whereas HRS and Cr were independent predictors of 6-month mortality. (4) Conclusions: SBP types, Gram stain result, and ESBL strain did not affect survival. Only bacteremia (sepsis), HRS, and serum Cr independently predicted the short-term mortality in patients with SBP.