Staphylococcus aureus prophylaxis and trends in gram-negative infections in peritoneal dialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE: To examine gram-negative exit-site infection and peritonitis rates before and after the implementation of Staphylococcus aureus prophylaxis in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. DESIGN: Prospective data collection with periodic implementation of protocols to decrease infection rates in two PD programs. PATIENTS: 663 incident patients on PD. INTERVENTIONS: Implementation of S. aureus prophylaxis, beginning in 1990. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates of S. aureus, gram-negative, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa exit-site infections and peritonitis. RESULTS: Staphylococcus aureus exit-site infection and peritonitis rates fluctuated without significant trends during the first decade (without prophylaxis), then began to decline during the 1990s subsequent to implementation of prophylaxis, reaching levels of 0.02/year at risk and zero in the year 2000. Gram-negative infections fell toward the end of the 1980s, due probably to the implementation of better connectology. However, there have been no significant changes for the past 6 years. There was little change in P. aeruginosa infections over the entire time period. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is now the most common cause of catheter infection and catheter-related peritonitis. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylaxis against S. aureus is highly effective in reducing the rate of S. aureus infections but has no effect on gram-negative infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is now the most serious cause of catheter-related peritonitis.