Peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients in Southern Israel

We report our experience of peritonitis in a group of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients in the south of Israel during a 3-year period. During this period, 51 patients were treated with CAPD, comprising a total of 999 patient months of treatment. One hundred and forty-three episodes of peritonitis occurred in 42 patients. When the patients were divided into high risk and low risk groups, the overall incidence was one episode every 5.7 months in the high risk group and one episode every 13.2 months in the low risk group. Gram-positive organisms accounted for 62.2% of the infections, and coagulase negative Staphylococcus for 35% of infections. The recurrence rate was 12%. Catheter removal was required in seven patients, and three patients were transferred to hemodialysis because of recurrent infections. We conclude that CAPD is a safe and viable modality of treatment for end-stage renal disease in our patient population.