Rapid Communication
Copyright ©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 7, 2007; 13(45): 6027-6030
Published online Dec 7, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i45.6027
Evaluation of leukocyte esterase and nitrite strip tests to detect spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic patients
Serkan Torun, Enver Dolar, Yusuf Yilmaz, Murat Keskin, Murat Kiyici, Melda Sinirtas, Emre Sarandol, Selim Gurel, Selim Giray Nak, Macit Gulten
Serkan Torun, Yusuf Yilmaz, Uludag University Medical School, Department of Internal Medicine, Bursa 16059, Turkey
Enver Dolar, Murat Keskin, Murat Kiyici, Selim Gurel, Selim Giray Nak, Macit Gulten, Uludag University Medical School, Department of Gastroenterology, Bursa 16059, Turkey
Melda Sinirtas, Uludag University Medical School, Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Bursa 16059, Turkey
Emre Sarandol, Uludag University Medical School, Department of Biochemistry, Bursa 16059, Turkey
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Yusuf Yilmaz, MD, Uludag Universitesi Tip Fakultesi Ic Hastaliklari, Gorukle, Bursa 16059, Turkey. yusufyilmaz@uludag.edu.tr
Telephone: +90-533-4403995 Fax: +90-224-4534028
Received: August 1, 2007
Revised: September 2, 2007
Accepted: October 10, 2007
Published online: December 7, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the diagnostic efficacy of leukocyte esterase and nitrite reagent strips for bedside diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP).

METHODS: A total of 63 consecutive patients with cirrhotic ascites (38 male, 25 female) tested between April 2005 and July 2006 were included in the study. Bedside reagent strip testing was performed on ascitic fluid and the results compared to manual cell counting and ascitic fluid culture. SBP was defined as having a polymorphonuclear ascites count of ≥ 250/mm3.

RESULTS: Fifteen samples showed SBP. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the leukocyte esterase reagent strips were; 93%, 100%, 100%, and 98%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of the nitrite reagent strips were 13%, 93%, 40%, and 77%, respectively. The combination of leukocyte esterase and nitrite reagents strips did not yield statistically significant effects on diagnostic accuracy.

CONCLUSION: Leukocyte esterase reagent strips may provide a rapid, bedside diagnostic test for SBP.

Keywords: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis; Urinary reagent strip; Leukocyte esterase; Nitrite