Peritonitis

Peritonitis rates among Medicare patients initiating peritoneal dialysis in outpatient and hospital settings fell between 2009 and 2018, data show.

Having both a dog and cat in the same household as a patient on peritoneal dialysis may increase the patient’s risk for peritonitis, according to a presenter at the DOPPS Autumn Clinical Update meeting. 

Standardized peritonitis reporting in peritoneal dialysis facilities is feasible, according to a presenter at DOPPS.

A Medicare claims-based approach offers a “promising framework” for researchers studying peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis, according to data published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.

A recently published study looking at the use of peritoneal dialysis around the world found that countries with higher rates of kidney transplantation also had patients with the shortest time on PD.

Among patients with kidney failure, poor oral health is independently associated with increased risks of peritonitis and death, according to the results of this study.

A workshop of health professionals, patients and caregivers recommended that a core outcome measure for peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis should include symptom-based and laboratory-based criteria.

A screening device that attaches “in-line” to analyze white blood cell concentration in peritoneal effluent fluid — providing a “healthy,” “caution” or “risk” result at each treatment’s end — had 94% accuracy for infection-caution screening.

Health care providers should try to decrease frequency of infections, which are the leading cause of technique failure, and increase a patient’s odds for successful treatment or return to peritoneal dialysis, according to a speaker.

While researchers of this study found “limited complications” associated with urgent-start peritoneal dialysis, they identified several factors that may increase the risk for a variety of catheter-related complications, including leakage and peritonitis.