Objectives: To assess survival and predictive factors of mortality after an episode of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in cirrhotic patients and to analyze the diagnostic and therapeutic measures used., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 158 consecutive episodes of SBP treated between January 2003 and December 2005. Survival was studied by Kaplan-Meier curves, compared by the log-rank test. Independent predictive factors of mortality were obtained by a Cox regression model, while independent predictive factors of in-hospital mortality were obtained by logistic regression analysis., Results: A total of 80.4% of the SBP episodes occurred in men and the mean age was 61.23 +/- 12.49 years. The most frequent etiology of cirrhosis was viral (51.3%), followed by alcoholic (39.9%). The distribution of Child-Pugh classification was 5.7% (A), 63.3% (B) and 31% (C). Overall 3-year survival in the sample was 43.3%. Four variables were identified as independent predictive factors of in-hospital and 3-month mortality: renal impairment, hepatic encephalopathy, diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) < 75 mmHg. At the end of the monitoring period, the results of the analysis were as follows: diagnosis of HCC, MAP < 75 mmHg, and age > 65 years. Microbiological detection was achieved in 21% of the episodes. The most frequent microorganisms detected were Escherichia coli in ascitic fluid and Staphylococcus aureus in blood cultures., Conclusions: SBP has a poor short- and long-term prognosis in cirrhotic patients. Independent predictive factors of short-term survival are renal impairment, hepatic encephalopathy, MAP < 75 mmHg, and the presence of HCC.