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Alternative names Return to top
Dialysis-associated peritonitis; Continuous ambulatory peritonealDefinition Return to top
This is an acute or chronic inflammation (irritation and swelling) of the peritoneum (lining of the abdomenal cavity) that occurs in people receiving peritoneal dialysis.Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top
The cause of dialysis-associated peritonitis may be the introduction of bacteria into the peritoneum by the dialysis procedure. Skin bacteria are the most common organisms causing infection. Incidence is about one infection for every 15 months of peritoneal dialysis.
Symptoms Return to top
Signs and tests Return to top
The doctor will do a physical examination and may find that your abdomen is tender when touched. There may be some discharge from the site where the catheter used for dialysis enters the skin.
Tests that can show infection include:
Treatment Return to top
The goal of treatment is to cure the infection. Antibiotics are given into a vein (intravenous injection) and/or into the peritoneum. The antibiotic will be specific to the organism recovered in cultures of blood or peritoneal fluid.
Expectations (prognosis) Return to top
Most patients recover uneventfully.
Complications Return to top
Calling your health care provider Return to top
Call your health care provider if you receive peritoneal dialysis treatments and develop symptoms of peritonitis.
Prevention Return to top
Careful sterile technique when performing peritoneal dialysis may help reduce the risk of inadvertently introducing bacteria during the procedure. Some cases are not preventable. Equipment design improvements have made these infections less common.
Update Date: 7/14/2004 Updated by: Daniel Levy, M.D., Ph.D., Infectious Disease, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Page last updated: 28 October 2004 |