Peritoneal Dialysis Infections Recommendations

Peritonitis remains a serious problem in peritoneal dialysis patients accounting for technique failure and contributing to mortality. Many peritonitis episodes are due to contamination at the time of the exchange and exit site infections. Protocols can be implemented by programs to diminish the risk of infection. Careful training, especially in handwashing technique and in doing the connection, are critical for preventing contamination related peritonitis. Peritonitis due to exit site infections can be reduced by use of exit site antibiotic cream. Gentamicin as opposed to mupirocin exit site prophylaxis reduces not only S. aureus but also P. aeruginosa infections. Refractory exit site infections can be managed with simultaneous catheter replacement. Once peritonitis occurs, prompt institution of empiric antibiotics, dictated by the history of the program’s infections, should be done. Initial therapy is then modified once the culture results are known. Catheters require removal if the peritonitis fails to resolve within 5 days of appropriate antibiotic therapy or if peritonitis is relapsing. Fungal peritonitis is best treated with prompt catheter removal. Implementation of protocols to prevent peritonitis and careful attention to both the organisms causing peritonitis and the rate of infection by a peritoneal dialysis center are essential for reducing infectious complications. Once infections occur, rapid steps to treat and manage are important to diminish the risk of mortality and subsequent peritoneal damage, areas requiring more research.