Phlegmonous gastritis andHemophilus influenzae peritonitis in a patient with alcoholic liver disease

Abstract

A patient with alcoholic liver disease and ascites hadHaemophilus influenzae peritonitis and died in spite of vigorous antibiotic therapy. At autopsy, a phlegmonous gastritis was found as a likely cause of the peritonitis. Phlegmonous gastritis is an uncommon cause of unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms in alcoholics and in the elderly, and it may be pathogenetic in rare patients with bacterial peritonitis of unclear source.