Abdominal fluid: septic or not?

In patients with abdominal effusion, it is important to quickly determine whether septic peritonitis is present. A combination of cytology, glucose and lactate differences between blood and abdominal fluid, and aerobic and anaerobic culture can help guide the diagnosis. Intracellular bacteria are highly suggestive of sepsis, although they are not always visible.

This overview summarizes the key parameters and cut-off values used to help distinguish septic from non-septic abdominal fluid.