Peritonitis in children with automated peritoneal dialysis.

This is a retrospective study including 36 Saudi children who were on automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) at the Al-Hada Armed Forces Hospital, Taif, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during seven years. A total of 10 boys and 26 girls with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) received APD for a total of 731.75 months. 36 episodes of peritonitis occurred in 17 children (47%). The frequency of peritonitis was one episode per 20.3 treatment months. Catheters were changed in 3 patients (8%). Three patients were switched to chronic hemodialysis, while 4 underwent successful renal transplantation. Results revealed that 11 patients (19%) were culturenegative, while 25 (81%) were culturepositive. Gram-positive organisms were responsible for the majority of peritonitis episodes (50%) followed by Gram-negative organisms (31%); occurrence was more frequent in young patients. Empiric antibiotic therapy covered both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. However, all gram-positive isolated microorganisms showed sensitivity to vancomycin. On the other hand, most gram-negative organisms showed sensitivity to ceftazidime or tobramycin.