Is unsuspected infection infrequent in asymptomatic outpatients with refractory ascites undergoing therapeutic paracentesis?
Although further studies are needed, the routine culture of ascitic fluid in asymptomatic outpatients with refractory ascites requiring therapeutic paracentesis may not be necessary when there is a low index of suspicion for occult infection. In circumstances of clinical uncertainty, however, obtaining ascitic fluid cell counts with differential is recommended to insure patient safety.
This was a retrospective study, and the small sample size makes it difficult to generalize results.