A 58-year-old man with a history of decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis is evaluated in the emergency department for worsening abdominal distension, fever, and confusion over the past 24 hours. His current outpatient medications include propranolol, spironolactone, furosemide, and lactulose. His temperature is (), blood pressure is , and heart rate is . Physical examination reveals a lethargic man with a distended, diffusely tender abdomen, shifting dullness, and mild asterixis. Laboratory studies show:
| Laboratory Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Leukocyte count | |
| Total bilirubin | |
| Blood urea nitrogen | |
| Serum creatinine | (baseline ) |
Diagnostic paracentesis yields cloudy fluid with a nucleated cell count of and polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
Which of the following pharmacologic interventions are appropriate for this patient's acute management? (Select all that apply.)
- Initiate intravenous ceftriaxoneCevap
- Administer intravenous albuminCevap
- Discontinue home propranololCevap
- DContinue home spironolactone and furosemide
- EInitiate intravenous vancomycin
Cevap
The appropriate pharmacologic interventions are initiating intravenous ceftriaxone, administering intravenous albumin, and discontinuing home propranolol.
The patient has spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), diagnosed by an ascitic fluid absolute neutrophil count (in this case, ). The standard of care includes empiric coverage with a third-generation cephalosporin, such as intravenous ceftriaxone. Because the patient also has acute kidney injury (creatinine ) and significant hyperbilirubinemia, intravenous albumin is strongly indicated to prevent hepatorenal syndrome and reduce mortality. Furthermore, nonselective beta-blockers (like propranolol) should be discontinued in patients with cirrhosis who develop SBP, severe sepsis, or acute kidney injury due to the high risk of hemodynamic collapse.
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Patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis complicated by acute kidney injury require empiric third-generation cephalosporins, intravenous albumin to prevent hepatorenal syndrome, and the immediate discontinuation of antihypertensive and diuretic therapies (e.g., nonselective beta-blockers, spironolactone).