[Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes].

We present a 68 year old male with alcoholic cirrhosis that was admitted with abdominal pain and fever. Hepatocarcinoma and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis by Listeria monocytogenes was diagnosed. The patient was treated with ampicillin and tobramycin during 25 days following a favorable course although ascitic fluid remained abnormal during 21 days. It is noted the rarity of Listeria as a cause of bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic patients although they are immunodeficient. It is also important to establish the etiological origin because standard treatment of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is cefotaxime and Listeria is resistant to this antibiotic. The 66% of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis secondary to Listeria monocytogenes infection in cirrhotic patients has been reported in Spain and this might be due to a higher incidence of human listeriosis in this country.