The effect of antibiotic prophylaxis on the healing of exit sites of peritoneal dialysis catheters in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the influence of intraperitoneal (i.p.) antibiotic (AB) prophylaxis on the quality of healing and infection rates of exit sites in peritoneal dialysis catheters.


METHODS
Twenty-one Sprague-Dawley rats were dialyzed 3 times per day for 6 weeks. Dianeal solution containing AB was used for all the rats during the first 5 days. The animals were randomized on the sixth day into three groups: group A (AB-free after randomization), group B (AB for 3 weeks), and group C (AB during 6 weeks). Scores were given to each exit site according to the observation. Mean scores from each group were compared in an attempt to find significant differences between the groups. Dialysate and exit-site drainage samples were taken weekly for microbiology.


RESULTS
Eight episodes of peritonitis were diagnosed, six in group A and two in group B. The most common bacteria causing peritonitis were gram-negative rods. The mean scores were not significantly different between groups C and B throughout the study, even after the discontinuation of the prophylaxis. Group A, when compared to the other two groups, had significantly higher scores after the second week and throughout the rest of the study.


CONCLUSIONS
Intraperitoneal antibiotic prophylaxis for 3 weeks after catheter implantation is an effective way to prevent early colonization of exit sites, providing a better healing quality and lower incidence of catheter-related infection. Although the extension of the prophylaxis for 6 weeks seems to be beneficial, it was not statistically proven in this study.
Pecoits-Filho
R F
RF
Department of Medicine, Dalton Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia 65212, USA.
Twardowski
Z J
ZJ
Khanna
R
R
Kim
Y L
YL
Goel
S
S
Moore
H
H
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010531:Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000517:prevention & control; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents