Multicenter study of effects of pediatric peritoneal dialysis practices on bacterial peritonitis.

Bacterial peritonitis is a major cause of morbidity in pediatric peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients and can lead to catheter removal, hospitalizations, peritoneal membrane dysfunction, and sepsis. The goal of this prospective study was to determine whether the incidence of peritonitis had improved over time and what practice patterns influenced peritonitis. Two cohorts of PD patients within the End-stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Networks 9/10 and who were <21 years old were prospectively followed for 1 year in 1991 and 2002 and included 70 and 82 patients, respectively. A questionnaire was completed for each patient outlining demographic, clinical, and dialysis characteristics. A second questionnaire was completed for each peritonitis episode. The 2002 cohort was younger, included more nonwhites, and had fewer peritonitis episodes. A shift in practice patterns was evident, with more of the 2002 cohort receiving prophylactic antibiotics and omentectomy at catheter insertion and using cycler machines with a parent operator. Peritonitis-free interval was 10.8 months in 1991 and 17.3 months in 2002. The only variable statistically related to the lower rate of peritonitis in 2002 was fewer prior peritonitis events. The results show an improvement in peritonitis-free interval in studied patients on PD, which appears to be related to numerous changes in practice patterns.