Peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Laboratory and clinical studies.

During a three year period, 1979-81, 82 patients were treated by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). The incidence of peritonitis was reduced significantly during the three years from one episode per 20 patient-weeks to one episode every 37 patient-weeks. 83% of the 136 episodes of peritonitis were treated successfully by antibiotic therapy alone. 62% of the total episodes were managed successfully with intraperitoneal cefuroxime. in 13 (16%) patients, CAPD failed because of peritonitis. Hospital admission for peritonitis has been reduced to a mean of 4.3 days per patient per year of CAPD. Fron January to September, 1982, Clostridium-difficile colitis developed in 13 patients. This complication was associated with considerable mortality and morbidity and has prompted a change in antibiotic policy. Patients with peritonitis are now given intraperitoneal netilmicin and intravenous vancomycin. Peritonitis remains the main complication of CAPD, but can be minimised by development of adequate facilities for performing CAPD.