Evaluation of Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis-Related Peritonitis Episodes

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of peritonitis in patients with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)-related peritonitis, microorganisms causing peritonitis and the clinical course of patients during the 15-year study period.

MATERIAL and METHODS: A total of 61 patients (26 male, 35 female) with CAPD-related peritonitis treated in our hospital between 2000-2014 were enrolled into this study.

RESULTS: During the study period, 103 episodes of peritonitis were observed, with a mean incidence of 0.29 episodes per patient year. Overall, 58.3% of the episodes were due to gram-positive organisms, 7.8% due to gram-negative organisms and 30.1% were culture negative. The treatment was successful in 96.1% of the episodes, and removal of the Tenckhoff catheter was required in 4 patients. It was observed when the distribution of the causative organisms over the years were examined that the number of CAPD peritonitis and the rate of culture-negative episodes decreased after the year 2008.

CONCLUSION: In our center, the main causes of peritonitis were gram-positive microorganisms. During follow-up, the incidence of peritonitis and the rate of culture-negative episodes decreased but there was no change in the gram stain characteristics of organisms. Reducing the incidence of CAPDrelated peritonitis could be possible by providing intensive training to patients and strict monitoring.