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Peritonitis - dialysis associated

Contents of this page:

Illustrations

Peritoneal sample
Peritoneal sample

Alternative Names    Return to top

Dialysis-associated peritonitis

Definition    Return to top

Dialysis-associated peritonitis is inflammation of the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum), which occurs in those who receive peritoneal dialysis.

Causes    Return to top

Dialysis-associated peritonitis may be caused by bacteria that get into the area during the dialysis procedure. Skin bacteria or fungi can cause the infection.

Approximately one infection occurs for every 15 months of peritoneal dialysis.

Symptoms    Return to top

Other symptoms that can occur with this disease:

Exams and Tests    Return to top

The doctor will do a physical examination and may find that your abdomen is tender when touched. There may be some discharge from the site where the catheter used for dialysis enters the skin. Dialysis fluid may be cloudy.

Tests that can show infection include:

Treatment    Return to top

The goal of treatment is to cure the infection. Antibiotics are given into a vein (intravenous injection) or into the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum).

Laboratory tests that show which bacteria or fungi are causing the infection will determine the type of antibiotic used.

Outlook (Prognosis)    Return to top

Most patients recover.

Possible Complications    Return to top

You may need to have the dialysis catheter removed.

When to Contact a Medical Professional    Return to top

Call your health care provider if you receive peritoneal dialysis treatments and develop symptoms of peritonitis.

Prevention    Return to top

Careful sterile technique when performing peritoneal dialysis may help reduce the risk of inadvertently introducing bacteria during the procedure. Some cases are not preventable. Equipment design improvements have made these infections less common.

Update Date: 10/15/2008

Updated by: Daniel Levy, MD, PhD, Infectious Diseases, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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