Concept and Etiology:Peritonitisis an inflammation of the tissue that lines your
abdomen (also called peritoneum) It is usually from a bacterial or fungal infection. It
affects the gastrointestinalsystem by infecting the peritoneum which if untreated can
lead to sepsis(Mabewa et al., 2015). Pperitoneal dialysis therapy is one of the
most common causes of peritonitis, so hand hygiene is important for these patients.
Classification:The World Journal of Emergency Surgery (2015) classifies
Peritonitis as “primary, secondary and tertiary basing on the source and nature of
the microbial contamination” (pg.1). Secondary Peritonitis is the deadliest of the
classifications and one of the most common emergency surgeries, having high morbidity
and mortality(Mabewa et al., 2015).
Clinical Manifestations (Symptoms and Signs):
o
Abdominal pain
Nausea and vomiting
Low urine output
Loss of appetite
Diarrhea
Cloudy dialysis fluid (if on Dialysis)
Diagnostic Tests:
o
Xray
Ct Scan
Blood and Urine test
MRI
References
John Hopkins Medicine. (2021).Peritonitis. Www.hopkinsmedicine.org.
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/peritonitis
Mabewa, A., Seni, J., Chalya, P. L., Mshana, S. E., & Gilyoma, J. M. (2015). Etiology,
treatment outcome, and prognostic factors among patients with secondary
peritonitis at Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania.World Journal of
Emergency Surgery,10(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13017-015-0042-5
Mayo Clinic. (2018).Peritonitis – symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peritonitis/symptoms-causes/syc-
20376247
