Since its initial description in 1964,research hastransformed spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP)from a feared disease (with reported mortality of 90%)to a treatable complication of decompensated cirrhosis,albeit with steady prevalence and a high recurrencerate. Bacterial translocation,the key mechanism in thepathogenesis of SBP,is only possible because of theconcurrent failure of defensive mechanisms in cirrhosis.Variants of SBP should be treated. Leucocyte esterasereagent strips have managed to shorten the ’tap-to-shot’ time,while future studies should look into theircombined use with ascitic fluid pH. Third generationcephalosporins are the antibiotic of choice becausethey have a number of advantages. Renal dysfunctionhas been shown to be an independent predictor ofmortality in patients with SBP. Albumin is felt to reducethe risk of renal impairment by improving effectiveintravascular volume,and by helping to bind pro-inflammatory molecules. Following a single episodeof SBP,patients should have long-term antibioticprophylaxis and be considered for liver transplantation. Since its initial description in 1964, research hastransformed spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) from a feared disease (with reported mortality of 90%) to a treatable complication of decompensated cirrhosis, albeit with steady prevalence and a high recurrence rate. Bacterial translocation, the key mechanism in the pathogenesis of SBP, is only possible because of the current failure of defensive mechanisms in cirrhosis. Variants of SBP should be treated. Leucocyte esterase reagent strips have managed to shorten the ’tap-to-shot’ time, while future studies should look into their combined use Third generation cephalosporins are the antibiotic of choice for they have a number of advantages. helping to bind pro-inflammatory molecules. Following a single episode of SBP, patie nts should have long-term antibioticprophylaxis and be considered for liver transplantation.