The overall rate of peritonitis was low after contamination. Wet contamination was associated with a much higher risk of peritonitis. Prophylactic antibiotics after wet contamination were effective in preventing peritonitis.

Objective To examine the natural history of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PSA) exit-site infections (ESI) in patients treated with antibiotics with or without surgical interventions. Design Retrospective record review from May 1994 to April 1997. Setting A single dialysis unit in a district hospital. Patients The review included 353 patients who had undergone continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Outcome Measures The prevalence and etiology of ESI, the treatment regimen for PSA ESI, and the outcome of treatment. Results The prevalence of ESI was 55%. A total of 131 episodes (range 1 -5) of PSA ESI occurred in 78 (40.2%) of the 194 patients who experienced ESI. Among these 78 patients, 4 groups with different outcomes were identified.ln group 1,35 patients (44.9%) were treated successfully with antibiotic therapy alone. Among these 35 patients, 4 developed PSA peritonitis at a mean of 5 months (range 2 -10 mth) after apparent clinical resolution of PSA ESI. Two of the 4 patients switched to long-term hemodialysis (HD) because of peritoneal failure. In group II, 8 patients (10.3%) responded to a combination of antibiotics and shaving of the external cuff. In group III, 21 patients (26.9%) with recurrent ESI underwent elective Tenckhoff catheter removal and reinsertion. One of the 21 patients had relapse of PSA ESI 14 months after the operation. In group IV, 14 patients (17.9%) had recurrent PSA ESI that failed to respond to multiple courses of antibiotics and shaving of the external cuff. Consent for Tenckhoff catheter removal was not obtained and 4 of these 14 patients subsequently developed PSA peritonitis. One of the 4 patients changed to permanent HD due to peritoneal failure. Conclusions Considering the increased risk and the poor outcome of PSA peritonitis in patients with persistent PSA ESI, early Tenckhoff catheter removal is recommended if the patient fails to respond to antibiotics with or without externalization of the external cuff.

When told of their need for dialysis, patients often cannot accept it and are fearful toward dialysis. Pre-dialysis counseling programs help patients to face dialysis, to make the right choice of dialysis modality, and to prepare themselves for life on dialysis. Clear explanations of peritoneal dialysis (PD) help patients choosing PD. Patients should be referred to pre-dialysis programs at least 4 – 6 months before commencement of dialysis or when their glomerular filtration rate is around 15 mL/min/1.73 m2. The pre-dialysis program is best conducted by experienced staff such as renal nurses and multidisciplinary staff including nephrologists, dietitians, physiotherapists, psychologists, social workers, or even dialysis patient representatives depending on availability. The program should be designed according to the culture, settings, staff availability, and patient load in individual hospitals. Pre-dialysis home visits may be needed in some cases to assess suitability and prepare the home for PD.