In PD peritonitis that is long standing, recurrent, or not responsive to therapy, MBEC testing should be considered as a biofilm may be present. Gentamicin should be strongly considered over other agents for empiric gram-negative coverage as it may be providing synergy in the setting of Staphylococcus aureus. Also, the newer anti-staphylococcal drugs should be tested for their performance in a biofilm using the MBEC method.

Iron deficiency is very common in our haemodialysis population, especially in those patients receiving rHuEpo. A carefully monitored regimen of maintenance parenteral iron is a safe, effective, and economically favourable means of iron supplementation in patients with insufficient iron stores on maximum tolerated oral supplements.

Objective Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum biofilm eliminating concentration (MBEC) results were compared to determine changes in the pattern of antibiotic sensitivity of gram-negative bacilli from the planktonic to the biofilm phase of growth. Methodology The MIC and MBEC assays were conducted on stored isolates obtained from patients presenting with peritoneal dialysis-related gram-negative peritonitis with Escherichia coli or Pseudomonas. Results The antibiotic sensitivities of planktonic organisms tested by the MIC assays were significantly higher than the antibiotic sensitivities of the same organisms in their biofilm state, as tested by the MBEC assays. Conclusions In their biofilm state, gram-negative bacteria are much less susceptible to antibiotics compared to their antibiotic susceptibility in the planktonic state.

In nonambulatory hypertensive pregnant patients, there is a strong correlation between random voided protein-creatinine ratios and 24-hour urine protein excretions.

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