Spontaneous group B Salmonella enteritidis peritonitis in cirrhotic ascites and acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Salmonella represents an infrequent cause of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic ascites. A cirrhotic patient, an alcoholic and former intravenous drug abuser, developed spontaneous group B Salmonella enteritidis (undetermined serotype) bacterial peritonitis. The isolation of this pathogen, a common cause of bacteremia in acquired immune deficiency syndrome, led to the serological determination of infection with human immune deficiency virus (HIV).