Antibiotic treatment of infectious peritonitis in chronic peritoneal dialysis.

Antibiotic treatment of infectious peritonitis was evaluated in 97 primary episodes registered among 66 patients treated with chronic intermittent peritoneal dialysis over a 3-year period. 87% of the cases could be treated with antibiotics of low toxicity. The chance of continuing peritoneal dialysis after treatment of peritonitis was better among out-patients than among hospitalized patients. The overall continuance rate was 90%. Relapse of the primary infection occurred in 10% of the cases and was associated with a treatment duration shorter than 2 weeks. Superinfection occurred in 5% of the cases. In 15% the dialysis catheters had to be replaced, due primarily to problems of dialysis technique. Death during active peritonitis occurred in 4% of the cases and was associated with severe underlying diseases or complications, such as intestinal perforation and intraperitoneal abscess formation. Side effects attributable to antibiotic treatment occurred in 13% of the cases, the most common side effect being self-limiting diarrhoea.