The importance of peritoneal catheter exit-site care

Comparison of Exit-Site Infection Frequency in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis and Automated Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: A Single-Center Experience

Objectives:

Catheter exit-site infection (ESI) is generally caused by skin flora. Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients have more contact with their catheters than automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) patients as a result of performing multiple exchanges per day. The aim of the present study was to compare the frequency of ESIs between these 2 peritoneal dialysis (PD) modalities.

Methods:

PD patients from 2001 to 2015 were enrolled in the study. Patients transferred from CAPD to APD were excluded. All of the data were collected retrospectively. The rate of ESI occurrence and culture results in the CAPD and APD groups were compared.

Results:

The data of 280 patients were evaluated. APD patients represented 23.2% of the study cohort. Prevalence of peritonitis was 87.6% if a patient had an ESI and 50.7% if there was no ESI (p=0.000). The frequency of ESI was similar between the 2 peritoneal dialysis modalities (p=0.343). There was a statistically significant difference in the causative organism of infection between the 2 groups (p=0.021).

Conclusion:

The ESI rate was similar in the CAPD and APD patients though CAPD requires more exchanges, and therefore there is more contact with the catheter. All PD patients, regardless of the treatment modality used, are expected to perform exchanges according to standard rules for connecting the catheter to the PD solution bag. As long as patients observe these guidelines, there would appear to be no increased ESI risk related specifically to the modality.

Catheter-related infections in peritoneal dialysis: comparison of a single center results and the literature data

BACKGROUND

Catheter-related infections are important causes of morbidity in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). There are different protocols of exit site care for the prevention of catheter-related infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of catheter-related infections and their complications in our PD center.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective, observational study for all patients receiving PD in our center. We observed prevalent patients every year for 5 years. The patients performed the exit-site care three times a week, cleaning the exit site with 10% sodium hypochlorite. From 2017, update of ISPD recommendations suggests the application of antibiotic creams. We recorded the incidence rate of ESI and TI, gentamicin resistance, catheter lost, related post-ESI peritonitis and fungal infections, and we compared our results with the data in the literature.

RESULTS

Prevalent patients per year were 117.6 ± 5.5. The "time at risk" was 356.46 years. The median values of TESI (tunnel and exit site infections), TI, gentamicin resistance, related post-ESI peritonitis and fungal infection rate were similar in our results and the literature data. The ESI and the catheter lost caused by infection were significantly lower in our patients. No significant adverse effects, such as skin allergy or intolerance, were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results confirm the utility and the safety of routinely exit site care using 10% sodium hypochlorite. This protocol resulted similar to the data reported in the literature. Our analysis of the literature highlighted the wide variation in the infection rate of ESI and TI.

Peritoneal Dialysis in Adult Patients with Permanent Suprapubic Catheter: A Single-Center Experience and Literature Review

Background

The aim of this paper was to review the feasibility of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in the presence of a permanent supra-pubic catheter over a long follow-up period.

Methods

Twelve patients with automated PD and permanent suprapubic catheters were studied for complications over a period of 10 years.

Results

In all 12 patients, PD went smoothly. Two of our patients required removal of the PD catheter due to peritonitis. The overall rate of exit-site infection throughout the study was 41.7/patient-month and the difference between patients 60 years or older and those 25 years or younger was not significant ( p = 0.3673). The overall peritonitis rate for all patients was 38.3 episode/patient-month, and none of the patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) had peritonitis. All patients with episodes of infection responded well to the proper antibiotics.

Conclusions

The available data supported the feasibility of PD in patients with permanent suprapubic catheters; however, a greater number of patients with a longer follow-up period need to be studied to support our results.

Identification of Targets for Prevention of Peritoneal Catheter Tunnel and Exit-Site Infections in Low Incidence Settings

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BACKGROUND

Peritoneal catheter tunnel and exit-site infection (TESI) complicates the clinical course of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Adherence to recommendations for catheter insertion, exit-site care, and management of Staphylococcus aureus (SAu) carriage reduces, but does not abrogate the risk of these infections. ♦

OBJECTIVE

To reappraise the risk profile for TESI in an experienced center with a long-term focus on management of SAu carriage and a low incidence of these infections. ♦

METHOD

Following a retrospective, observational design, we investigated 665 patients incident on PD. The main study variable was survival to the first episode of TESI. We considered selected demographic, clinical, and technical variables, applying multivariate strategies of analysis. ♦

MAIN RESULTS

The overall incidence of TESI was 1 episode/68.5 patient-months. Staphylococcus aureus carriage disclosed at inception of PD (but not if observed sporadically during follow-up) (hazard ratio [HR] 1.53, p = 0.009), PD started shortly after catheter insertion (HR 0.98 per day, p = 0.011), PD after kidney transplant failure (HR 2.18, p = 0.017), lower hemoglobin levels (HR 0.88 per g/dL, p = 0.013) and fast peritoneal transport rates (HR 2.92, p = 0.03) portended an increased risk of TESI. Delaying PD ≥ 30 days after catheter insertion markedly improved the probability of TESI. Carriage of methicillin-resistant SAu since the start of PD was associated with a high incidence of TESI by these bacteria. On the contrary, resistance to mupirocin did not predict such a risk, probably due to the use of an alternative regime in affected patients. ♦

CONCLUSIONS

Adherence to current recommendations results in a low incidence of TESI in PD patients. Interventions on specific risk subsets have a potential to bring incidence close to negligible levels. Despite systematic screening and management, SAu carriage is still a predictor of TESI. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns may help to refine stratification of the risk of TESI by these bacteria. Early insertion of the peritoneal catheter should be considered whenever possible, to reduce the risk of later TESI.

Comparison of exit site infection and peritonitis incidences between povidone-iodine and normal saline use for chronic exit site care in peritoneal dialysis patients

Background

Catheter-related exit site infection is a major risk factor for the development of peritonitis and can contribute to failure of treatment maintenance in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Although povidone-iodine can be used for exit site care, the irritation induced by the local application of povidone-iodine could lead to secondary infection. Therefore, we evaluated the clinical effectiveness of normal saline compared with povidone-iodine as a method of exit site care in chronic PD patients.

Methods

In all, 126 patients undergoing PD treatment for>6 months between January 2006 and December 2009 were enrolled. Data were retrospectively analyzed for the incidence of exit site infection and peritonitis for 2 years prior to and after December 2007. In addition, we identified the incidences of catheter-related infections during follow-ups from January 2010 to December 2013.

Results

The participants׳ mean age was 58.8±12.9 years. The incidences of exit site infection and peritonitis were one episode per 64.6 patients–months and one episode per 40.4 patients–months in the povidone-iodine group, respectively, whereas these were one episode per 57.5 patients–months and one episode per 45.6 patients–months in the normal saline group, respectively. Whereas Gram-positive bacteria most frequently caused catheter-related infections in both groups, culture-negative infections were dominant in the normal saline group.

Conclusion

Exit site care using normal saline did not increase the incidence of exit site infection and peritonitis. Therefore, normal saline may be an alternative treatment for exit site care in patients receiving PD.

Vascular access: choice and complications in European paediatric haemodialysis units

BACKGROUND

European and U.S. guidelines emphasise that permanent vascular access in the form of arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) or grafts (AVG) are preferable to central venous catheters (CVC) in paediatric patients on long-term haemodialysis. We report vascular access choice and complication rates in 13 European paediatric nephrology units.

METHODS

A survey of units participating in the European Pediatric Dialysis Working Group requesting data on type of vascular access, routine care and complications in patients on chronic haemodialysis between March 2010 and February 2011.

RESULTS

Information was complied on 111 patients in 13 participating centres with a median age of 14 (range 0.25-20.2) years. Central venous catheters were used in 67 of 111 (60%) patients, with 42 patients (38%) having an AVF and two patients (2%) having an AVG. Choice of vascular access was significantly related to patient age, with patients with AVF/AVG having a median age of 16 years compared to 12 years for patients with CVCs (p < 0.001). Routine CVC exit site care and catheter lock solution use differed between centres. CVC infections requiring intravenous antibiotics were reported at a rate of 1.9 and exit site infections at a rate of 1.8 episodes/1000 catheter days. Overall infective complications necessitating CVC change occurred at a rate of 0.9 episodes/1000 catheter days. No infective complications were reported in patients with AVF/AVG access. The rate of CVC infections requiring intravenous antibiotics was significantly lower in patients in whom CVC exit sites were cleaned weekly as opposed to every dialysis session (relative risk with every session cleaning vs. weekly cleaning 2.58, 95% confidence interval 1.17-5.69). Catheter malfunction (inadequate blood flow) was a more prevalent complication necessitating 22.4 thrombolytic interventions/1000 catheter days and 2.1 CVC changes/1000 catheter days.

CONCLUSIONS

Central venous catheters remain the predominant choice of vascular access in Europe despite problems of malfunction and infection. AVF/AVG were predominantly used in adolescents without reported complications. More regular exit site cleaning may predispose to CVC infection, but this observation requires prospective evaluation.

Patients' experiences of peritoneal dialysis at home: a phenomenological approach

The aim of this study was to highlight the meaning of home dialysis as experienced by patients with chronic renal failure. The research design was influenced by Ricoeur's phenomenology. Nineteen patients from a Brazilian public hospital were interviewed, from May to September 2009. Interviews were guided by the question: "Tell me about your experiences lived undergoing PD". Findings unveiled the patients' perception of the drastic changes in their existence, consequent to disease and treatment; and the perception of themselves in that process. The feeling of anguish, physical pain and deprivations were part of living that condition. They foresee an uncertain future, depending on the expertise of health care providers and the demands on support of significant others. Findings suggest that individual aspects of patients' experiences must be considered if health care providers are to facilitate positive health outcomes.