Secondary peritonitis epidemiology and demographics

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Shivani Chaparala M.B.B.S [2]

Overview

Despite the recent advances in treatment modalities, morbidity and mortality rates caused by peritonitis remain high.

The incidence of secondary peritonitis can not be measured accurately as it occurs in the context of a wide spectrum of diseases and conditions.
At one study, the incidence of diffuse postoperative peritonitis was 25% in the surgical ICU especially in patients with multi-organ failure.^[1]

Morbidity and mortality of patient with secondary peritonitis is ~30%.^[2]^[3].
Despite the development of antibiotics and significant improvement in intensive care support, morbidity is high and mortality rates remain between 30-66%.

↑ Krastev N, Djurkov V, Murdjeva M, Akrabova P, Karparova T, Penkov V, Kiprin G, Asenov K, Krastev N, Djurkov V, Murdjeva M, Akrabova P, Karparova T, Penkov V, Kiprin G, Asenov K (2013). “Diagnosis of spontaneous and secondary bacterial peritonitis in patients with hepatic cirrhosis and ascites”. Khirurgiia (Sofiia) (in Bulgarian) (3): 20–5. PMID 24459763.
↑ Christou NV, Barie PS, Dellinger EP, Waymack JP, Stone HH (1993). “Surgical Infection Society intra-abdominal infection study. Prospective evaluation of management techniques and outcome”. Arch Surg. 128 (2): 193–8, discussion 198-9. PMID 8431120.
↑ Wacha H, Hau T, Dittmer R, Ohmann C (1999). “Risk factors associated with intraabdominal infections: a prospective multicenter study. Peritonitis Study Group”. Langenbecks Arch Surg. 384 (1): 24–32. PMID 10367626.