As its name suggests, bacterial peritonitis is most often caused by bacteria but is not considered contagious. Bacterial peritonitis can either be ‘primary’ – i.e. occur spontaneously, but not caused by another medical condition, or ‘secondary’ – i.e. caused by another medical condition. However, bacterial peritonitis can also be caused by excessive levels of acid and bile in the stomach, gall bladder and biliary tract. Peritonitis has also seen in some patients who developed a reaction to the cornstarch sprinkled on surgical gloves.
