Once-daily intraperitoneal gentamicin is effective therapy for gram-negative CAPD peritonitis.

OBJECTIVE: To report our 3-year experience with the use of once-daily intraperitoneal (IP) gentamicin in the treatment of gram-negative continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) peritonitis. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study in prevalent CAPD patients. SETTING: A tertiary care institution. PATIENTS: All CAPD patients who presented with new episodes of peritonitis were studied. At presentation with peritonitis, IP vancomycin and gentamicin were administered as empirical therapy. IP gentamicin was given at a single daily dose of 40 mg/2 L in the overnight bag. The antimicrobial agents were reviewed when the culture results became available. Intraperitoneal ceftazidime was added for the treatment of pseudomonas peritonitis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Results of microbiological cultures and clinical outcomes of peritonitis were analyzed. RESULTS: Over a 36-month period, 190 episodes of peritonitis were recorded, of which 62/190 episodes (32.6%) isolated gram-negative organisms. The gram-negative organisms isolated were Escherichia coli, 15/62 episodes (24.1%); Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 12/62 episodes (19.4%); Acinetobacter spp, 12/62 episodes (19.4%); Klebsiella spp, 10/62 episodes (16.1%); and others, 13/62 episodes (21.0%). The overall treatment success rate was 66.1%. The treatment success rates were 74.0% if pseudomonas infections were excluded, 76.1% if gentamicin-resistant pathogens were excluded, and 80.5% if both pseudomonas infections and gentamicin-resistant pathogens were excluded. CONCLUSIONS: Once-daily IP gentamicin appears to be effective in the treatment of gram-negative CAPD peritonitis.

Psychosocial and psychiatric morbidity in patients on CAPD.

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) is an important mode of therapy for patients with end-stage renal disease. Although techniques and patient survival rates have improved, the psychosocial rehabilitation of Asian CAPD patients has not been studied. The aim of this study is to measure the extent of psychosocial and psychiatric morbidity in a sample of Asian CAPD patients. Patients from the outpatient CAPD facility affiliated with a tertiary care hospital were randomly selected and enrolled in the study. Demographic and clinical data were collected. Psychosocial and psychiatric assessments using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and coping style questionnaires were performed by a trained psychiatrist. The patients' most bother-some symptoms and specific worries were noted. Thirty of 105 stable CAPD patients (mean age 54.2 +/- 14.1 years, M:F 1:2, mean duration on CAPD 22.3 +/- 8.3 months) were studied. Twenty-one patients were married. Twenty-two patients were uneducated, 19 were unemployed, and 9 were homemakers. Based on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scales, 50% of the patients were identified as cases of anxiety and 13% as depression. Although 93% of the patients accepted their illness, 46% of the patients were in a state of despair and hopelessness. Pruritus was the most frequent complaint (40%), followed by dietary restrictions (23%). The main worries were financial in 83% of patients, sexual dysfunction in 73%, and unemployment in 67%. In conclusion, Asian CAPD patients have a high degree of undetected psychosocial and psychiatric morbidity. These issues need to be addressed to provide adequate psychosocial rehabilitation.

A prospective randomized comparison of the Swan neck, coiled, and straight Tenckhoff catheters in patients on CAPD.

Our objective was to study the impact of peritoneal catheter configuration on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)-related infections, mechanical complications, and patient dropout in a prospective randomized trial. Forty consecutive patients who were commencing CAPD were randomized to receive either a double-cuff, Swan neck coiled catheter or a double-cuff, straight Tenckhoff catheter, implanted by surgical technique. There was no significant difference in the peritonitis rate between the two groups. There was a lower rate of exit-site infection in the Swan neck group compared to the straight catheter group (0.29 vs 0.60 episodes/patient-year, p < 0.05). Catheter-tip migration occurred in 3 patients with the straight catheters compared to one patient with the Swan neck catheter. No patient had to discontinue CAPD because of mechanical complications. The number of CAPD patient dropouts was not significantly different between the two groups. The Swan neck configuration resulted in a significant reduction in the rate of exit-site infections. The coiled component of the catheter may lead to fewer episodes of catheter-tip migration. However, catheter configuration did not influence the number of technique failures.

A prospective randomized comparison of single versus multidose gentamicin in the treatment of CAPD peritonitis.

There is an increasing trend towards the use of aminoglycosides in a once-daily dose administration for the treatment of severe infections in nonrenal failure patients. The use of once-daily dose aminoglycoside therapy may be associated with a reduction in toxicity. We performed a prospective randomized study comparing once-daily versus multiple-dose gentamicin in the treatment of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) peritonitis. Seventy-three patients with 100 new episodes of peritonitis were enrolled in the study. At presentation of peritonitis, the patients were alternately assigned to receive either intraperitoneal gentamicin at a dose of 40 mg/2 L dialysate administered as a once-daily dose or gentamicin at a dose of 10mg/2 L dialysate administered 4 times per day. All patients also received intraperitoneal vancomycin at a dose of 1 g per week. There were no significant differences in the treatment success (88% vs 82%, p = NS) and relapse (18% vs 20%, p = NS) rates between the once-daily dose and multiple-dose groups. The mean trough serum gentamicin level was higher in the once-daily dose group compared to the multiple-dose group (0.75 +/- 0.72 vs 1.50 +/- 1.40 mg/L). In conclusion, gentamicin administered in a once-daily dose is as effective as multiple-dose administration in the treatment of CAPD peritonitis. The lower gentamicin level with once-daily dose administration may be associated with a reduction in aminoglycoside toxicity.

A prospective study of peritoneal dialysis-related infections in CAPD patients with diabetes mellitus.

Data comparing peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related infection rates between diabetic and nondiabetic patients on chronic peritoneal dialysis are conflicting. We carried out a prospective study comparing PD-related infection rates between diabetic and nondiabetic patients treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) in our center. All patients commencing CAPD between January 1989 and June 1992 were enrolled into the study. Patients were followed up until death, CAPD dropout, or until December 1992. Data on diabetes mellitus status, Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage, and PD-related infections were gathered. Infection rates were analyzed using life tables and the negative binomial test. One hundred and seven diabetic patients and 72 nondiabetic patients were studied. Patients with diabetes mellitus were not at increased risk of being S. aureus nasal carriers. The peritonitis rate was significantly higher in the diabetic group (1.2 vs 0.8 episodes/patient/year, p < 0.05). The exit-site and tunnel infection, catheter loss, and patient dropout rates were not significantly different between the two groups. Life-table analysis did not show a significant difference in the time to first episode of peritonitis and catheter-related infection.

Breaking-in after the insertion of Tenckhoff catheters: a comparison of two techniques.

Breaking-in after catheter implantation may be an important factor in the development of early catheter-related infections in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. We carried out a prospective study comparing two break-in techniques after catheter implantation. All patients entering the CAPD program from March 1991 to December 1992 were enrolled into the study. Data on diabetes mellitus status, Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage, and peritoneal dialysis-related infections were gathered. After catheter implantation, the patients were assigned to either have their catheter rested until the fourteenth postoperative day (group 1) or immediate use of the catheter for intermittent peritoneal dialysis (group 2). Exit-site care was identical for both groups. A total of 32 patients in group 1 and 74 in group 2 were studied. Age, sex, and S. aureus nasal carriage were not significantly different between the two groups. There were more patients with diabetes mellitus in group 2. Four patients in group 2 dropped out of the CAPD program because of refractory peritonitis. There was no significant difference in the number of exit-site infections between groups 1 and 2. There were more patients who had pericatheter leakage and catheter migration in group 2 compared to group 1, although the difference was not statistically significant.