Detecting bacterial growth in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis effluent using two culture methods.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the peritonitis-causing bacteria detected in peritoneal fluid using a blood culture bottle in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).


METHODS
One-hundred and eleven dialysates from 43 patients suspected of peritonitis related to CAPD were retrospectively evaluated between May 2000 and February 2008. In all cases, 5 to 10 mL of dialysate was inoculated into a pair of BacT/Alert blood culture bottles, and 50 mL of centrifuged dialysate was simultaneously inoculated into a solid culture media for conventional culture. The results were compared to those of the conventional culture method. Isolated microorganisms were compared between the two methods.


RESULTS
The blood culture method was positive in 78.6% (88 / 112) of dialysate specimens and the conventional culture method in 50% (56 / 112, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The blood culture method using the BacT/Alert system is useful for culturing dialysates and improves the positive culture rate in patients with suspected peritonitis compared to the conventional culture method.
Yoon
Se-Hee
SH
Department of Internal Medicine, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea. sehei@hanmail.net
Choi
Nak Won
NW
Yun
Sung-Ro
SR
D003470:Culture Media; D015314:Dialysis Solutions; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D008828:Microbiological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D010531:Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D003470:Culture Media; D015314:Dialysis Solutions