title: Impact of new dialysis solutions on peritonitis rates.
abstract: Peritonitis remains a major cause of morbidity among patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD), yet there is little information about the effect of new biocompatible dialysis solutions on peritonitis rates and treatment. In our unit, information on each peritonitis episode is prospectively collected. Since 2003, bicarbonate/lactate dialysate has been gradually introduced for new patients and for patients experiencing abdominal pain with conventional lactate solutions. From 2002 to 2005, data from 121 episodes of peritonitis (71 automated PD and 50 continuous ambulatory PD) were analyzed; 107 episodes occurred in patients using standard lactate dialysate and 14 episodes in patients using bicarbonate/lactate solution. Patients using bicarbonate/lactate had a significantly lower peritonitis rate of 1 per 52.5 patient-months compared to those using standard lactate dialysate (1 per 26.9 patient-months) (P=0.0179). Response to treatment, however, was not affected by the type of dialysate; cure rates (71.4 and 69.1%, respectively) and recurrence rates (21.4 and 15.8%, respectively) were not significantly different. Catheter removal was required in three (21.4%) patients using bicarbonate/lactate and 23 (22.4%) patients using lactate solution. Use of biocompatible dialysate appears to reduce the peritonitis rate by 50%, although this has to be confirmed in a randomized study. The type of dialysate, on the other hand, does not affect response to treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Renal Medicine, Imperial College London, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK. sohail.ahmad@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Sehmi
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Ahmad-Zakhi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clemenger
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D015314:Dialysis Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis / Q000379:methods*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D015314:Dialysis Solutions; D019344:Lactic Acid