Multiple comparisons were analyzed using the ANOVA test with Bonferroni correction. All reported P values are two-sided, and P values lower

than 0.05 are considered to indicate significance. All calculations were performed using the SPSS 16.0 software (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL). A total series of 62 patients was included in the study. Of those, 22 patients had SBP, either with a positive (n = 9) or negative (n = 13) culture. No clinical or analytical statistically significant differences were observed between culture-positive and culture-negative patients with SBP. Bacterial DNA was identified in all 22 patients with SBP, regardless of their microbiological Caspase inhibitor culture. Identified bacterial species were Escherichia coli (n = 12), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 4), Streptococcus spp. (n = 3), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 2), and Enterococcus faecalis (n = 1). No differences were observed in the proportion of gram-negative and gram-positive sequencing-identified microorganisms between culture-negative

and culture-positive patients with SBP. Among patients with culture-positive SBP (n = 9), the culture-isolated microorganisms corresponded to those identified by nucleotide sequencing AP24534 molecular weight in all cases, except one identified as Staphylococcus aureus by sequencing but as Streptococcus pneumoniae by microbiological culture. Mean amplified bacterial DNA concentration was 32.1 ± 8.6 ng/μL Methisazone and mean serum endotoxin levels were 1.46 ± 0.65 endotoxin units (UE)/mL. Twenty patients with cirrhosis and ASC, as determined by positive microbiological culture or bacterial DNA presence in blood and AF,

who were not receiving SID with norfloxacin constituted Group II. Serum endotoxin levels within this group were 0.35 ± 0.06 UE/mL (P < 0.05 compared with SBP group). Finally, 20 patients with cirrhosis and ascites who were undergoing SID with norfloxacin as secondary prophylaxis of SBP were also included. The period of norfloxacin administration was shorter than 14 months in all patients. Bacterial DNA was not found in any sample in this group, and serum mean endotoxin levels were 0.32 ± 0.05 UE/mL (P < 0.05 compared with SBP patients). Patients’ clinical and analytical characteristics are shown in detail in Table 1. Mean age of included patients was 58 years, and 61% of them were male. Total white blood cells and PMN cells in AF were statistically increased in the overall series of SBP versus the rest of the patients. Sixteen of 22 patients with SBP, four of 20 patients with ASC, and all patients undergoing SID with norfloxacin had had previous episodes of ascites. Three patients with SBP, two patients with ASC and two patients undergoing SID had had previous episodes of encephalopathy. A 6-month period of follow-up was studied in all patients. Four patients with SBP, two patients with ASC, and three patients undergoing SID died during the follow-up.