Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumPharmacologic Interventions

A 58-year-old man is brought to the emergency department by his family due to confusion, fever, and worsening abdominal swelling over the past 48 hours. His medical history is significant for alcohol-associated cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and prior esophageal variceal banding. Current home medications include spironolactone, furosemide, and nadolol. Vital signs show a temperature of 38.3°C (100.9°F), blood pressure of 96/58 mmHg, and heart rate of 105/min. Physical examination reveals scleral icterus, a distended abdomen with shifting dullness, and diffuse abdominal tenderness to palpation without rebound or guarding. The patient is disoriented to time and place, and asterixis is present on wrist extension.

Pertinent laboratory results are as follows:

Laboratory TestResultReference Range
Sodium132 mEq/L136-145 mEq/L
Creatinine2.1 mg/dL (baseline 0.9 mg/dL)0.7-1.3 mg/dL
Total bilirubin4.8 mg/dL0.1-1.2 mg/dL
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)45 mg/dL8-23 mg/dL

Diagnostic paracentesis is performed, yielding cloudy ascitic fluid with a polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell count of 650/mm³.

Which of the following pharmacologic interventions are appropriate to initiate simultaneously in this patient? (Select all that apply)

  1. Intravenous albuminAnswer
  2. Intravenous ceftriaxoneAnswer
  3. C
    Intravenous furosemide
  4. D
    Intravenous gentamicin
  5. E
    Intravenous vancomycin

Answer

The correct interventions to initiate simultaneously are intravenous ceftriaxone and intravenous albumin.
The correct selections represent the standard of care for a patient presenting with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) complicated by acute kidney injury. The diagnostic paracentesis showing an ascitic PMN count greater than 250/mm³ confirms SBP. Empiric therapy with a third-generation cephalosporin, such as intravenous ceftriaxone, provides excellent coverage against the common enteric Gram-negative bacilli responsible for this infection. Furthermore, this patient meets the clinical criteria for adjunctive intravenous albumin therapy (serum creatinine > 1 mg/dL, BUN > 30 mg/dL, or total bilirubin > 4 mg/dL). Albumin administration on days 1 and 3 of the diagnosis helps maintain effective arterial blood volume, significantly lowering the risk of hepatorenal syndrome and improving overall survival.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Diagnose the acute condition based on the paracentesis results.
The patient has spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), confirmed by an ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell count > 250/mm³.
Establishing the diagnosis determines the immediate need for empiric antimicrobial therapy directed at enteric flora.
2
Assess for complications related to the acute illness by evaluating the laboratory profile.
The patient has developed acute kidney injury (creatinine 2.1 mg/dL, up from baseline 0.9 mg/dL) and has an elevated bilirubin (4.8 mg/dL) in the setting of SBP.
Identifying acute kidney injury in a patient with cirrhosis and SBP dictates the need for specific adjunctive interventions to prevent hepatorenal syndrome.
3
Select the appropriate evidence-based pharmacologic regimen.
Initiate a third-generation cephalosporin (ceftriaxone) for antimicrobial coverage and administer intravenous albumin.
Ceftriaxone covers the most likely pathogens (e.g., E. coli, Klebsiella), while albumin significantly reduces mortality and renal impairment by supporting splanchnic and systemic hemodynamics.

Key Concept

Patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) and high-risk features (such as acute kidney injury or significantly elevated bilirubin) require simultaneous empiric antibiotics (e.g., ceftriaxone) and intravenous albumin to reduce mortality and prevent hepatorenal syndrome. Nephrotoxins and volume-depleting agents must be strictly avoided.
Rate this question

Topics

Pharmacologic Interventions

More questions from this topic