Successful treatment of Pseudomonas peritonitis during continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Successful eradication of Pseudomonas peritonitis is described in 12 (57%) of 21 cases from a large continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) program at a tertiary care center. In successful cases, cure was achieved within 17 days using therapy which included aminoglycoside started routinely at the onset of symptoms and an antipseudomonal penicillin or cephalosporin derivative added as soon as pseudomonas infection was identified on culture. Of the 9 treatment failures which required catheter removal, 2 had failure of peritoneal drainage, 4 had infection with multiple and/or drug-resistant Pseudomonas strains, and 3 had persistent catheter tunnel infection which resulted in recurrent Pseudomonas peritonitis. Factors such as diabetes mellitus and pediatric age group did not prevent successful medical therapy. Predisposing factors favoring development of Pseudomonas peritonitis included technical failures and in a few cases recent antibiotic therapy. We conclude that Pseudomonas peritonitis complicating CAPD can be successfully cured without catheter removal or discontinuation of CAPD in many cases, particularly when complicating factors are not present.     

Algal peritonitis complicating continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

A 41-year-old woman on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) presented with algal peritonitis. Prototheca wickerhamii was isolated from multiple dialysate effluent cultures. Despite treatment with amphotericin B, catheter removal was required. An attempt to reinsert a Tenckhoff catheter 3 months later was unsuccessful because of dense intraperitoneal adhesions. Prototheca sp are a rare cause of human disease, this being the first reported case of algal peritonitis complicating CAPD.     

Sclerosing peritonitis following continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Sclerosing peritonitis is a severe complication after CAPD treatment. The visceral peritoneum is thickened and interenteric adhesive parts are found. Myofibroblasts are proliferated and the collageneous tissue is hyperplastic. The mean clinical symptom is the mechanical obstruction of the small bowel. We observed this illness in three out of sixty patients under CAPD. These patients had higher incidence of bacterial peritonitis. In the ascites high concentrations of PG E2 and Thromboxan B2 were observed. After treatment of the infection the concentrations fell down to normal values. Electronoptical observations from peritoneal biopsies showed a proliferation of myofibroblasts and extracellular lysosomes. It is known from these lysosomes that they are able to set free proteasis. These lead to degredation of fibrin and fibrinogen. These splits are mitogen to myofibroblasts. release from HIT cells could also be evoked by the sulphonylureas glibenclamide and tolbutamide and by an increase in concentration of extracellular K+ to 40 mmol/l. The content of cyclic AMP in HIT cells was increased modestly by glucose but not by an increase in extracellular K+. Forskolin elicited a 4-fold increase in cyclic AMP content. We conclude that HIT cells retain the essential features of the insulin secretory response of normal B cells and represent an important tool for further biochemical characterisation of the secretory system.     

Prostaglandin-mediated loss of proteins during peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

The loss of proteins into the dialysate and the peritoneal generation of the immunoreactive prostanoids PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, PGF2 alpha, and TXB2 were studied in 12 patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) during 16 episodes of peritonitis and in inflammation-free periods. Protein permeability, defined as the ratio of dialysate/plasma protein (D/P), decreased with increasing molecular weight, independent of the condition of the peritoneum. With peritonitis a general rise of permeability was noticed for total protein (TP) and the individual proteins beta 2-microglobulin (beta MG), albumin (Alb), immunoglobulin G (IgG), and alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha MG) (P less than 0.001). Simultaneously, an increase of dialysate prostanoids occurred with predominance of the vasodilative acting prostaglandins PGI2, determined as its metabolite 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, and PGE2 by factors of 8.4 and 9.7, respectively (P less than 0.001), in comparison to peritonitis-free control. In the early phase of peritonitis (0 to 12 hr after the onset of therapy) the augumented peritoneal prostaglandin synthesis correlated positively with the increased permeability of TP (r greater than or equal to 0.7446, P less than 0.01) and the individual proteins beta MG, Alb, IgG, and alpha MG (r greater than or equal to 0.5970, P less than 0.05). Inhibition of cyclo-oxigenase activity by local administration of indomethacin inhibited both the generation of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and PGE2 by 39 and 42%, respectively (P less than 0.05), and the peritoneal loss of TP by 34% (P less than 0.05). In the absence of peritonitis indomethacin only diminished the synthesis of PGE2 whereas the generation of the other prostanoids remained unchanged.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Coccidioidal peritonitis associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

We report the first three cases of peritonitis due to the fungus Coccidioides immitis occurring during continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). At the time of diagnosis, none of the patients had evidence of active infection outside of the peritoneal cavity. Clues suggesting the diagnosis including a previous history of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis, an excess number of eosinophils in the peritoneal fluid, and failure to respond to therapy directed against bacteria. C immitis in peritoneal fluid was more readily isolated on specific fungal culture media than on routine bacterial culture media. In no instances did potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparations of the fluid reveal fungi. Coccidioidal peritonitis during CAPD appears to be a localized form of extrapulmonary coccidioidomycosis that has a relatively benign course once the peritoneal catheter is removed.     

Rhodococcus equi peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

The human Rhodococcus equi (R. equi) infection is now emerging, although extrapulmonary manifestation and isolation from patients without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection remains unusual. Considerable effort is required to correctly identify and diagnose this facultative pathogen in patients with peritonitis in end-stage renal failure (ESRF) on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). In the six cases of R. equi CAPD peritonitis reported in this series, diagnoses were made, on average, after 15 days and prolonged antibiotic therapy with morbidity in two patients. A diagnosis of R. equi should be considered in patients with suspected diphtheroid or Nocardia CAPD peritonitis, even with no history of animal contact. This study is the largest series on R. equi CAPD peritonitis and highlights the impact of this disease.     

Tsukamurella peritonitis associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

A case of Tsukamurella peritonitis associated with peritoneal dialysis in a 23-year-old woman is described. The organism was difficult to identify and was mistaken for Corynebacterium and atypical mycobacteria. Despite prolonged, multidrug, antimicrobial therapy with conventional antibiotics including vancomycin, ciprofloxacin, rifampin, gentamicin and ceftazidime, catheter removal was required to successfully treat peritonitis. Human infection due to this organism is rare and has been previously reported in only 13 cases, 1 of which was peritonitis. We describe here the second case of Tsukamurella peritonitis associated with peritoneal dialysis.     

Aspergillus peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients

Aspergillus peritonitis is a rare and serious cause of peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. We report 3 cases of aspergillus peritonitis in CAPD which were successfully treated by catheter removal and amphotericin. Two of the 3 patients returned temporarily to CAPD, but were subsequently transferred to hemodialysis because of membrane failure. A novel finding in 2 of the 3 cases was a positive Limulus amebocyte lysate test, despite negative bacterial cultures. We discuss the possible relevance of this finding to the diagnosis of aspergillus infections and emphasize the importance of early catheter removal for successful treatment of this condition.     

Campylobacter peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis: report of eight cases and a review of the literature.

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)-associated peritonitis remains the most common complication of this form of renal replacement therapy and the potential causative organisms are many and varied. Campylobacter bacteria are unusual causes of peritonitis in CAPD patients and we report our experience with eight cases and review those cases reported in the literature. In many episodes, there is a strong association with acute enterocolitis, which may precede the onset of cloudy dialysate by many days. The method of spread of these organisms from the gastrointestinal tract to the peritoneal cavity remains speculative. Bacteremic transfer would appear the most likely route, although it is probable that no single mode of spread explains all episodes. The treatment of choice of Campylobacter peritonitis is with intraperitoneal aminoglycoside in combination with oral erythromycin. An awareness of the potential for Campylobacter to cause CAPD-associated peritonitis, particularly when diarrhea is a prominent feature, has resulted in this organism becoming increasingly isolated in our unit.     

Fungal peritonitis in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Three recoveries in 5 cases without catheter removal

We attempted to treat 5 patients on CAPD with fungal peritonitis without removing the catheter. In 1 case, amphotericin B caused a severe chemical peritonitis. The other 4 patients received amphotericin B intravenously and miconazole or flucytosine intraperitoneally. Recovery was obtained in 3 cases without removing the catheter and in 1 case the patient died.     

Decreased size of peritoneal macrophage during peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients.

From January 1987 to July 1988, 30 patients suffering from end-stage renal disease were treated with continuous ambulatory peritonitis dialysis (CAPD) therapy. Serial cell number, size and cycle of the peritoneal macrophage (PM) in these patients were measured before and during episodes of peritonitis from the time they started CAPD therapy. Patients with peritonitis were divided into high peritonitis occurrence (HPOG) and low peritonitis occurrence (LPOG) groups. Both before and during occurrence of peritonitis, there were no significant differences in the number of PM cells in the dialysate taken from patients in the HPOG and LPOG. When peritonitis occurred, the size and cell cycle S/Go-G1 ratio decreased about 3 days after the onset of peritonitis. It progressed to the lowest level 7-10 days later, then progressively recovered. However, the dialysate PM cells from the HPOG took a much longer time to recover to the preperitonitis size. When dialysate PM cells from patients without peritonitis were put into the dialysate of HPOG patients on day 10 of peritonitis and incubated for 24 h, an obvious decrease in cell size could be identified. On the other hand, when the PM cells from HPOG patients with peritonitis on day 10 were incubated 24 h with the dialysate from patients without peritonitis, there were obvious increases in cell size. These results suggest there may be a substance (or substances) in the peritonitis dialysate, which contribute(s) to the shrinkage of PM cell size.     

Oral treatment of peritonitis complicating continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

The efficacy of oral treatment with cephradine in peritonitis associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) was compared with that of intraperitoneal cefuroxime over one year. There were 29 episodes of peritonitis in each group and a primary cure was achieved in 66% of the patients treated with cephradine compared with 55% of the patients treated with cefuroxime, suggesting that oral cephradine is as effective as a treatment with intraperitoneal cefuroxime. Nineteen of the 29 episodes in each treatment group were considered suitable for out-patient management and there was no difference in the success rate of either antibiotic regimen. The results suggest that out-patient treatment with oral cephradine is an efficient way of treating CAPD peritonitis.     

Pseudomonas peritonitis associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis: a six-year study

In a population of 214 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), 415 peritoneal infections occurred between 1980 and 1986. Fourteen of these infectious events were caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3.4%). None of those patients with P aeruginosa peritonitis were cured by medical therapy alone. Peritoneal catheter removal was necessary to achieve resolution of the infection. Significant patient morbidity from Pseudomonas infection included loss of peritoneal space for further dialysis and abscess formation. Our data suggests that prompt catheter removal should be seriously considered for chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients who develop P aeruginosa peritonitis.     

A bold mold? Paecilomyces variotii peritonitis during continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

A patient on peritoneal dialysis developed peritonitis due to Paecilomyces variotii. It appears that this relatively rare organism may be starting to assert itself as a more important human pathogen. A plea is made for speciation.     

Relapsing Bacillus licheniformis peritonitis in a continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patient

Bacillus licheniformis is a rare pathogen in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) peritonitis. Only one case of B. licheniformis peritonitis has been previously reported but relapsing peritonitis by same species has not been reported. A 31-year-old man undergoing CAPD was admitted to our hospital with diarrhoea and turbid peritoneal effluent. Although B. licheniformis was cultured at his previous admission, we did not consider the species as a pathogen. After the same species was cultured twice consecutively at the subsequent admission, we confirmed that B. licheniformis was a pathogen of CAPD peritonitis. After appropriate intraperitoneal antibiotics therapy, the patient improved. He is currently undergoing CAPD without catheter removal.     

Nontuberculous mycobacterial peritonitis during continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis: case report and review of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are responsible for an increasing proportion of mycobacterial disease. Peritonitis due to NTM is an unusual but treatable complication of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Its presentation is similar to that of typical bacterial peritonitis, but special culture techniques are required to avoid a delay in diagnosis. Successful treatment depends on early catheter removal, drainage of fluid collections, and appropriate use of antimicrobial agents. We report a case of Mycobacterium fortuitum peritonitis in a patient undergoing CAPD, and review all previously reported cases. Diagnostic and therapeutic strategies are summarized based on available literature.