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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffTo treat peritonitis, your doctor will likely prescribe an antibiotic medication to fight the infection and prevent it from spreading. The type and duration of your antibiotic therapy depend on the severity of your condition and the kind of peritonitis you have.
You may need to be hospitalized for peritonitis that's caused by infection from other medical conditions (secondary peritonitis). Surgery is often necessary to remove infected tissue, treat the underlying cause of the infection and prevent the infection from spreading.
If you're undergoing peritoneal dialysis and you have peritonitis, your doctor may recommend that you receive dialysis in another way for several days while your body heals from the infection. If peritonitis persists or recurs, you may need to stop having peritoneal dialysis entirely and switch to a different form of dialysis.
- Baron MJ, et al. Intraabdominal infections and abscesses. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2890287. Accessed May 12, 2009.
- Treating kidney failure with peritoneal dialysis. National Kidney Foundation. http://www.kidney.org/patients/plu/plu_pd/pd_8.cfm. Accessed May 17, 2009.
- Mandell GL, et al. Peritonitis. In: Mandell GL, et al. Mandell, Douglas and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. Philadelphia, Penn.: Elsevier; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/137891329-3/0/1259/540.html?tocnode=51378139&fromURL=540.html#4-u1.0-B0-443-06643-4..50071-4--cesec2_2535. Accessed May 17, 2009.
- Runyon BA. Treatment and prophylaxis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 12, 2009.
- Rangel SJ, et al. Peritonitis. In: Long SS. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Penn.: Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/137891329-3/0/1679/73.html?tocnode=55241490&fromURL=73.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06687-0..50072-2_1499. Accessed May 17, 2009.
