Spontaneous Fungal Peritonitis in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

Although spontaneous peritonitis is a common infection in liver cirrhosis patients, little is known about the clinical characteristics and treatments of spontaneous fungal peritonitis (SFP) or fungiascites. Although diagnosis of SFP or fungiascites is made according to the cell counts and culture in ascitic fluid, delayed diagnosis has been associated with poor prognosis of SFP. Risk factors for SFP include severe underlying liver dysfunction, hospitalization and nosocomial infections. SFP mortality rates have been estimated as higher than those of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Although early administration of appropriate antifungal agents may be necessary, it remains uncertain whether antifungal therapies would decrease SFP’s mortality rate.