Exit-site location does not influence peritoneal catheter infection rate

Peritoneal catheter infections are a cause of peritonitis, catheter loss, and permanent transfer of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients to hemodialysis. Risk factors for catheter infections have not been delineated. We investigated the location of the peritoneal exit-site location as a risk factor for catheter infection and loss. There was no relationship between catheter infection rates and exit location. Catheters exiting on the beltline had a median infection rate of 0.5 episodes/year, as opposed to 1.2 episodes/year for catheters exiting above the beltline and 0.9 episodes/year for catheters exiting below the beltline (ns). The percentage of catheters that became infected and required removal was the same for catheters exiting above, below, or on the beltline. Although we recommend avoiding the beltline for patient comfort, exit-site location is not an important determinant of infection rates or catheter outcome.