1310 patients with various forms of peritonitis were operated during 1989-1998. The tactics of the treatment was determined depending on bacterial contamination of the abdominal cavity. In abscesses of the abdominal cavity with massive bacterial contamination (6-7 CFU/g) drainage procedure was used. Mortality rate made up 4.8%. In local extended and diffuse peritonitis with a slight bacterial contamination of the abdominal cavity (3-5 CFU/g) and in absence of fibrinous deposition fixed on peritoneum, the drainage of the abdominal cavity was not used, and laparoscopy was performed in postoperative period for the control of the course of infectious process. Mortality rate was 0.6%. In extended peritonitis with massive bacterial contamination (6-8 CFU/g) the method of repeated explorations and sanitations of the abdominal cavity was used, mortality rate being 17.8%. The overall lethality made up 7.8%. Postoperative wound infection occurred in 6.7%, intraabdominal infection as abscesses or progressing peritonitis--in 2.1% of cases.