Background: Peritonitis refers to an inflammatory response of the peritoneum in the abdominal cavity in terms of activation of local mediator cascades by different stimuli. Therefore, bacterial, viral and chemical agents may cause inflammation of the peritoneal layer. Secondary peritonitis is usually due to spillage of gastrointestinal orgenitourinary microorganisms into the peritoneal cavity as a result of loss of integrity of the mucosal barrier.