Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Patients should be advised not to take part in any heavy activity for 24 hours after paracentesis. They should also be advised to call their doctor or return to the emergency department if any of the following are present after paracentesis:

• Signs of infection, such as increasing redness, swelling, or drainage of pus from the puncture site

• Worsening abdominal pain

• Fever

• Severe vomiting

• Bleeding from the site that does not stop after 1 hour of applying direct pressure to the area

• Continued drainage of more than a small amount of fluid from the puncture site for >24 hours.

Following discharge from the hospital after an episode of SBP, patients should be advised to take their medications (most importantly antibiotics) as directed. They should also be reminded to call their doctor or go to the emergency department immediately if any of the following occur:

• Worsening of abdominal pain

• Fever

• Severe vomiting

• New blood in stool or blood when vomiting.