title: Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis associated with peritonitis in older patients.
abstract: Our recent experience with peritonitis in patients over the age of 55 years undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis between 1979 and 1989 is reviewed. Thirty-seven patients in this age group underwent Tenckhoff catheter insertion. Severe catheter-related peritonitis occurred at a rate of 1.41 episodes per patient per year. Overall, there were 61 episodes of peritonitis in 31 patients, with an overall mortality rate of 7%. When systemic signs of sepsis were present, this rate rose to 25%. All deaths were associated with fungal, pseudomonal, or polymicrobial infections. Management of these infections may require aggressive measures including repeated laparotomy for control of sepsis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Medical Center, Tucson.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Valente
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rappaport
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003045:Coccidioides / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010531:Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies