Optimal Treatment Strategy for Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis

November 2, 2026 updated by: Jae Hyun Yoon, Chonnam National University Hospital

Randomized Controlled Study of Optimal Treatment Strategy for Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis in Liver Cirrhosis: A Pilot Study

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a serious infection that occurs in patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Current clinical practice often includes follow-up paracentesis approximately 48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment to assess the change in the ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) count. However, it remains uncertain whether routine follow-up paracentesis improves clinical outcomes compared with a strategy based primarily on clinical response.

This pilot randomized controlled trial will evaluate whether routine follow-up paracentesis is necessary in patients with cirrhosis and SBP. A total of 40 adult patients with SBP will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either a routine follow-up paracentesis group or a no-routine follow-up paracentesis group. All participants will receive standard antibiotic therapy and intravenous albumin according to the study protocol.

Participants assigned to the routine follow-up paracentesis group will undergo repeat paracentesis approximately 48 hours after initiation of antibiotic therapy. Ascitic fluid PMN counts and other laboratory findings will be assessed, and antibiotic treatment may be modified according to the treatment response. Participants assigned to the no-routine follow-up paracentesis group will be monitored using clinical symptoms, vital signs, and blood inflammatory markers without scheduled repeat paracentesis. However, paracentesis may be performed at any time if clinically indicated, such as in the presence of worsening abdominal symptoms, persistent fever, or hemodynamic instability.

The study will compare clinical outcomes between the two treatment strategies, including 30-day and 90-day survival, treatment response, duration of antibiotic therapy, length of hospital stay, SBP recurrence, complications, new infections, and medical costs. The results of this pilot study are intended to provide preliminary evidence for determining whether routine follow-up paracentesis can be safely avoided in selected patients with SBP and to inform the design of a larger randomized controlled trial.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
40

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Eun-chae Yoo, CRC(Clinical research coordinator)
  • Phone Number: +82-62-220-6216
  • Email: karenaec5@daum.net

Study Locations

  • South Korea
    • Gwangju
      • Gwangju, Gwangju, South Korea, 61469
        • Recruiting
        • Chonnam National University Hospital
        • Contact:
          • Jae Hyun Yoon, Assistant Professor, M.D., Ph.D.
          • Phone Number: +82-62-220-6216
          • Email: zenmake14@gmail.com

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adults aged 18 years or older
  • Diagnosis of liver cirrhosis based on clinical, histologic, or imaging findings
  • Diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis confirmed by an ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) count of ≥250 cells/mm³ at initial paracentesis
  • Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Suspected secondary bacterial peritonitis, including suspected perforation of a gastrointestinal organ
  • Inability to safely undergo paracentesis, defined as platelet count <20,000/mm³ or prothrombin time international normalized ratio (PT-INR) >3.0
  • Active bleeding or shock
  • Expected survival of less than 48 hours
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Previous ascitic fluid or blood culture demonstrating resistance to cefotaxime or ceftriaxone
  • Any other condition that, in the investigator's judgment, would prevent adherence to the study protocol

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: A (Routine Follow-up Paracentesis)

Routine follow-up paracentesis approximately 48 hours after initiation of antibiotic therapy.
Procedure: Routine Follow-up Paracentesis at 48 Hours

Participants assigned to the routine follow-up paracentesis arm will undergo repeat paracentesis approximately 48 hours after initiation of antibiotic therapy for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Ascitic fluid will be analyzed for polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) count, bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility, and biochemical parameters. If the ascitic fluid PMN count has not decreased by at least 25% from baseline, antibiotic therapy may be escalated according to the study protocol. Standard antibiotic therapy and intravenous albumin will be administered according to the study protocol.
Active Comparator: B (No Routine Follow-up Paracentesis)

No routine follow-up paracentesis; paracentesis will be performed only when clinically indicated.
Procedure: Other

Participants will not undergo scheduled follow-up paracentesis at approximately 48 hours. Treatment response will be assessed based on clinical symptoms, vital signs, and blood inflammatory markers. Paracentesis may be performed if clinically indicated, such as for worsening abdominal symptoms, persistent fever, or hemodynamic instability. Standard antibiotic therapy and intravenous albumin will be administered according to the study protocol.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
30 Day Overall Survival
Time Frame: 30 days after randomization

The proportion of participants who are alive at 30 days after randomization. Survival status will be assessed during hospitalization or through outpatient follow-up or telephone contact after discharge.
30 days after randomization
90 Day Overall Survival
Time Frame: 90 days after randomization

The proportion of participants who are alive at 90 days after randomization. Survival status will be assessed during hospitalization or through outpatient follow-up or telephone contact after discharge.
90 days after randomization

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Length of Hospital Stay
Time Frame: From hospital admission to discharge, assessed up to 90 days

Total number of days from hospital admission to discharge.
From hospital admission to discharge, assessed up to 90 days
Antibiotic-Related Adverse Events
Time Frame: Through index hospital discharge, assessed up to 90 days

The proportion of participants experiencing antibiotic-related adverse events, including Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea, drug allergy, or anaphylaxis.
Through index hospital discharge, assessed up to 90 days
Duration of Antibiotic Therapy
Time Frame: From initiation of antibiotic therapy to discontinuation or hospital discharge, assessed up to 90 days

Total number of days of systemic antibiotic treatment administered for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis during the index hospitalization.
From initiation of antibiotic therapy to discontinuation or hospital discharge, assessed up to 90 days
Recurrence of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis
Time Frame: Up to 90 days after randomization

The proportion of participants who develop recurrent spontaneous bacterial peritonitis within 90 days after randomization.
Up to 90 days after randomization
New Infection During Hospitalization
Time Frame: Through index hospital discharge, assessed up to 90 days

The proportion of participants who develop a new infection other than the initial episode of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis during the index hospitalization.
Through index hospital discharge, assessed up to 90 days
Cirrhosis-Related Complications
Time Frame: Up to 90 days after randomization

The proportion of participants who develop major cirrhosis-related complications, including hepatorenal syndrome or clinically significant bleeding, during follow-up.
Up to 90 days after randomization
Medical Costs
Time Frame: Total direct medical costs (in Korean Won or USD) incurred during the index hospitalization, including costs associated with paracentesis, laboratory testing, antibiotic treatment, and other inpatient care, as assessed from hospital billing records.

Total medical costs incurred during the index hospitalization, including costs associated with paracentesis, laboratory testing, antibiotic treatment, and other inpatient care.
Total direct medical costs (in Korean Won or USD) incurred during the index hospitalization, including costs associated with paracentesis, laboratory testing, antibiotic treatment, and other inpatient care, as assessed from hospital billing records.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Chonnam National University Hospital

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Korean association for study of the liver

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 4, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
October 28, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 2, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 6, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 2, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • CNUH-2026-313

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

IPD Plan Description

De-identified individual participant data collected during the study, including data dictionaries, will be shared upon reasonable request directed to the principal investigator.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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