Which statement about peritonitis diagnostic criteria is true?

Which statement about peritonitis diagnostic criteria is true?

• A. Abdominal pain or effluent cloudy must be present
• B. Negative culture rules out peritonitis
• C. PMN >50% evidence is not reliable
• D. Positive effluent culture is one criterion for diagnosis

Answer: (D)

Positive effluent culture is one criterion used in diagnosing PD-related peritonitis, and diagnosis typically requires at least two of three criteria: abdominal pain or cloudy effluent, effluent white blood cell count >100/µL with PMN >50%, and culture positivity. So a culture-positive result supports the diagnosis as part of the criteria, but alone it isn’t enough. Abdominal pain or cloudy effluent is not required on its own if the other two criteria are met, and a negative culture does not rule out peritonitis because culture-negative cases can occur. The PMN >50% criterion is a reliable part of the diagnostic framework when considered with the WBC count.

Positive effluent culture is one criterion used in diagnosing PD-related peritonitis, and diagnosis typically requires at least two of three criteria: abdominal pain or cloudy effluent, effluent white blood cell count >100/µL with PMN >50%, and culture positivity. So a culture-positive result supports the diagnosis as part of the criteria, but alone it isn’t enough. Abdominal pain or cloudy effluent is not required on its own if the other two criteria are met, and a negative culture does not rule out peritonitis because culture-negative cases can occur. The PMN >50% criterion is a reliable part of the diagnostic framework when considered with the WBC count.