Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in a healthy adult male.

A 44-year-old man was admitted with acute abdominal pain, anorexia, nausea and dry retching, with tenderness and rigidity of the abdominal wall. Exploratory laparotomy revealed generalized peritonitis. He developed delerium tremens soon after operation and dehiscence of the abdominal wound 36 hours postoperatively. When the wound was closed and reinforced his recovery was uneventful. This case was unusual because he did not have ascites or cirrhosis, which are commonly associated with the disease.