A Quarter of a Century of Adult Peritoneal Dialysis-Related Peritonitis at an Australian Medical Center

Background Peritonitis remains one of the major complications of peritoneal dialysis (PD) and results in reduced technique survival and increased patient morbidity and mortality.Methods We prospectively recorded comprehensive data on all episodes of PD peritonitis over a 25-year period, including organisms isolated and antibiotic sensitivities. Data on 1588 PD patient-years with 2073 episodes of peritonitis were analyzed; 2089 organisms were isolated in 608 patients. Peritoneal dialysis technique and patient survival were also recorded.Results There was a significant decline over the years in the incidence of peritonitis, from 6.5 to 0.35 episodes/patient-year, with the decline in the post twin-bag era from 2.3 to 0.47 ( p < 0.001) due primarily to a decrease in gram-positive organisms. The most common isolates (68.9%) were gram-positive organisms; gram-negative organisms comprised 26.8% and fungi 4.1%. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most common pathogen isolated (35.3%). Culture-negative peritonitis was seen in 13.4% of episodes.Conclusion This is the largest series of PD peritonitis reported, demonstrating a dramatic reduction over a 25-year period and also detailing the changing trends of organisms isolated in association with improved technique and patient survival. Although rates have improved, peritonitis remains a major complication and further research needs to be done to improve both PD technique and patient survival.