[Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and bacteraemia due to Aeromonas hydrophila].

Bacterial peritonitis is a frequent complication in cirrhotic patients. Amongst the aetiological germs, Aeromonas is very infrequent. We present the clinical case of a cirrhotic patient with peritonitis and bacteraemia due to Aeromonas hydrophila. This micro-organism is a Gram-negative bacillus of the Vibrionaceae family. It very frequently produces gastroenteritis in the human being. Exceptionally it can give rise to extraintestinal infections, especially in immunodepressed patients. Peritonitis due to Aeromonas has been described in association with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic patients, in patients on peritoneal dialysis and in cases of peritonitis secondary to intestinal perforation.