A 55-year-old man on ICU with chronic liver disease and ascites develops a temperature of 38.8°C. Diagnostic paracentesis shows an ascitic fluid neutr...

Question

A 55-year-old man on ICU with chronic liver disease and ascites develops a temperature of 38.8°C. Diagnostic paracentesis shows an ascitic fluid neutrophil count of 350 cells/mm³. Ascitic fluid culture is pending. According to EASL guidelines, what is the neutrophil threshold for diagnosing spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP)?

Accepted Answer

>250 cells/mm³ (polymorphonuclear cells/neutrophils)

Answer

>100 cells/mm³

Answer

>500 cells/mm³

Answer

>1000 cells/mm³

Answer

Culture positivity is required before treatment can be started

uk-fficm MCQ (SBA): SBP Diagnosis