Proton-Pump Inhibitor Use Associated with Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a common complication in cirrhosis. High rates of spontaneous bacterial translocation and compromised host defenses in patients with cirrhosis seem to play a major role in the development of SBP. Use of acid-suppressive therapy, with its predisposition to bacterial overgrowth and bacterial translocation, might heighten the risk for developing SBP.

To assess whether proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) use was associated with SBP in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis, investigators conducted a retrospective case-control study. Among 1309 patients admitted to a single tertiary care center during a 4-year period, researchers identified 65 cases (patients with cirrhosis and SBP) and 65 controls (patients with …