[Peritoneal dialysis catheter sterilization by urokinase administration in case of relapsing peritonitis: About four observations].

The presence of a biofilm within the peritoneal dialysis catheter where bacteria are encapsulated, protected from the action of antibiotics and insidiously liberated within the dialysate, best explains the relapse of the infectious peritonitis, when antibiotics are withdrawn. We here report a serie of four clinical cases in whom the administration of urokinase within the peritoneal catheter in addition to the current antibiotherapy, has cured relapsing peritonitis due to Staphylococcus epidermidis in two cases, Acinetobacterjohnsonii in one case and Staphylococcus haemolyticus in one case, respectively. This approach, safe and easy, allowed the infection eradication and did prevent a catheter removal and a potential transfer of the patients to hemodialysis.