Predictors and outcomes of peritoneal dialysis-related infections due to filamentous molds (MycoPDICS)

Introduction

We sought to evaluate the predictors and outcomes of mold peritonitis in patients with peritoneal dialysis (PD).

Methods

This cohort study included PD patients from the MycoPDICS database who had fungal peritonitis between July 2015-June 2020. Patient outcomes were analyzed by Kaplan Meier curves and the Log-rank test. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards model regression was used to estimating associations between fungal types and patients’ outcomes.

Results

The study included 304 fungal peritonitis episodes (yeasts n = 129, hyaline molds n = 122, non-hyaline molds n = 44, and mixed fungi n = 9) in 303 patients. Fungal infections were common during the wet season (p <0.001). Mold peritonitis was significantly more frequent in patients with higher hemoglobin levels, presentations with catheter problems, and positive galactomannan (a fungal cell wall component) tests. Patient survival rates were lowest for non-hyaline mold peritonitis. A higher hazard of death was significantly associated with leaving the catheter in-situ (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 6.15, 95%confidence interval [CI]: 2.86–13.23) or delaying catheter removal after the diagnosis of fungal peritonitis (HR = 1.56, 95%CI: 1.00–2.44), as well as not receiving antifungal treatment (HR = 2.23, 95%CI: 1.25–4.01) or receiving it for less than 2 weeks (HR = 2.13, 95%CI: 1.33–3.43). Each additional day of antifungal therapy beyond the minimum 14-day duration was associated with a 2% lower risk of death (HR = 0.98, 95%CI: 0.95–0.999).

Conclusion

Non-hyaline-mold peritonitis had worse survival. Longer duration and higher daily dosage of antifungal treatment were associated with better survival. Deviations from the 2016 ISPD Peritonitis Guideline recommendations concerning treatment duration and catheter removal timing were independently associated with higher mortality.

Fungal Peritonitis in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Peritonitis is one of the most frequent complications of peritoneal dialysis (PD) and 1% – 15% of episodes are caused by fungal infections. The mortality rate of fungal peritonitis (FP) varies from 5% to 53%; failure to resume PD occurs in up to 40% of patients. The majority of these FP episodes are caused by Candida species. Candida albicans has historically been reported to be a more common cause than non-albicans Candida species, but in recent reports a shift has been observed and non-albicans Candida may now be more common. Unusual, often “nonpathogenic,” fungi are being increasingly reported as etiologic agents in FP. Clinical features of FP are not different from those of bacterial peritonitis. Phenotypic identification of fungi in clinical microbiology laboratories is often difficult and delayed. New molecular diagnostic techniques ( e.g., polymerase chain reaction) are being developed and evaluated, and may improve diagnosis and so facilitate early treatment of infected patients. Abdominal pain, abdominal pain with fever, and catheter left in situ are risk factors for mortality and technique failure in FP. In programs with high baseline rates of FP, nystatin prophylaxis may be beneficial. Each program must examine its own history of FP to decide whether prophylaxis would be beneficial. Catheter removal is indicated immediately after fungi are identified by Gram stain or culture in all patients with FP. Prolonged treatment with antifungal agents to determine response and attempt clearance is not encouraged. Antifungals should be continued for 10 days to 2 weeks after catheter removal. Attempts at reinsertion should be made only after waiting for 4 – 6 weeks.

Treatment of Fungal Peritonitis with a Combination of Intravenous Amphotericin B and Oral Flucytosine, and Delayed Catheter Replacement in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis

Background

Fungal peritonitis (FP) is associated with significant mortality and high risk of peritoneal failure. The optimum treatment for peritoneal dialysis (PD)-associated FP remains unclear. Since January 2000 we have been treating FP with a combination of intravenous amphotericin B and oral flucytosine, together with deferred catheter replacement. We examined the clinical course and outcome of the FP patients treated with this approach (study group). An outcome comparison was also made to an alternatively treated historic cohort (control group).

Methods

This was a single-center retrospective study. The clinical course and outcome of 13 consecutive episodes of FP occurring in 13 patients treated between January 2000 and April 2005 with the study approach were examined. The patients were treated with an incremental dose of intravenous amphotericin B to a target dose of 0.75 – 1 mg/kg body weight/day, and oral flucytosine 1 g/day upon a diagnosis of FP at 3.77 ± 0.93 days from presentation. Replacement of the peritoneal catheter was intended after complete clearing of effluent, after which, antifungal chemotherapy was continued for another 1 – 2 weeks. Their outcome was compared with 14 historic controls that were treated between April 1995 and December 1999.

Results

Mean age of the study group was 58.7 ± 13.2 years; male-to-female ratio was 2:11; 6 (46.1%) were diabetic. All FP were caused by Candida species ( C. albicans, 2; C. parapsilosis, 8; C. glabrata, 3). Two (15.4%) patients died before resolution of the peritonitis. The dialysate effluent cleared in 11 patients (84.6%) after 13.2 ± 3.3 days of treatment, but 2 patients died of acute myocardial infarction before catheter replacement. Nine patients had their catheters replaced at day 26.7 ± 7.7 of treatment; all 9 returned to PD after a total of 31 ± 12.2 days of antifungal chemotherapy. Reversible liver dysfunction was common with this regimen. When compared with the 14 cases in the historic control group ( Candida species, 13; Trichosporon, 1), who were treated with amphotericin B, fluconazole, or a combination of the two, and the majority (78.6%) of whose catheters were removed before day 10 of presentation, the study group appeared to have a lower technique failure rate (30.8% vs 78.6%, p = 0.013) and similar all-cause mortality (30.7% vs 28.5%, p = NS), FP-related mortality (15.4% vs 28.5%, p = NS), and length of hospitalization (48.5 ± 30.2 vs 57.0 ± 37.7 days, p = NS). However, a significantly earlier commencement of antifungal treatment in the study group (3.8 ± 0.9 vs 5.8 ± 2.4 days, p = 0.012) could be an important confounder of outcome.

Conclusions

Combination of intravenous amphotericin B and oral flucytosine with deferred catheter replacement appears to be associated with a relatively low incidence of PD technique failure, without affecting mortality in patients suffering from FP due to yeasts in this preliminary study. Nonetheless, drug-induced hepatic dysfunction was common; close monitoring during treatment is of paramount importance. The reasons accounting for the observed distinctive outcome remain unclear and further study is required to confirm the results and to investigate for the underlying mechanism.

Fungal peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis: a 34-year single centre evaluation

Backgound

Fungal peritonitis (FP) is one of the most important causes of peritoneal dialysis (PD) failure, often burdened by increased morbility and mortality. This study evaluates the clinical course of FP cases that arose between 1983 and 2016 in a single PD unit.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective observational analysis of FP episodes recorded in the Baxter POET (Peritonitis Organism Exit sites Tunnel infections) registry and clinical records. FP incidence rate, PD and patients’ survival and clinical characteristics of the study population were analysed, taking into account the evolution of clinical practice during the study period as a result of technical innovation, scientific evidence and guideline history.

Results

Fourteen FP cases (2.8%) were detected. The overall incidence of PD peritonitis was one episode/27 patient-months. Candida parapsilosis was the most frequently (50%) detected yeast. Seventy-five per cent of cases were considered secondary FP. This group experienced 2.6±1.7 bacterial peritonitis before FP, most frequently due to Staphylococcus and Enterococcus species. Most patients were treated with fluconazole for ≥8 days. All subjects were hospitalized for a median time of 25 days. Tenckhoff catheter removal occurred in all cases of FP and all patients were transferred to haemodialysis. Two patients died. From December 2010 to December 2016, no FP episodes were recorded.

Conclusions

FP is confirmed as a significant cause of PD drop out and increases patients’ mortality risk. Prompt diagnosis of FP, targeted antifugal therapy and rapid PD catheter removal are essential strategies for improved patient and PD survival.

Fungal peritonitis among the peritoneal dialysis patients of four Turkish centres

This study evaluates the clinical findings and treatment of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients with fungal peritonitis in Istanbul from 2000 to 2010. The clinical records of 15 patients with fungal peritonitis among the total 795 patients were reviewed for the clinical and laboratory data. The mean duration of dialysis from the initiation of treatment until the development of fungal peritonitis was 41.14 months. Fungal peritonitis was the primary episode of infection in eight patients. In five other patients previous intensive antibiotherapy was documented. The isolated mircoboes were Candida albicans in six, non-C. albicans in eight and Aspergillus fumigatus in one patient. Tenckoff catheters were removed in all cases and antifungal treatment was given for a minimum of three weeks. Two patients died in the hospital due to the fungal infection whereas others were transferred to haemodialysis. This study highlights the importance of removing the catheter and initiating antifungal therapy as soon as possible in cases of fungal peritonitis because it is responsible for high morbidity and mortality.

Fungal peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis patients: successful prophylaxis with fluconazole, as demonstrated by prospective randomized control trial

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether oral administration of the antifungal fluconazole during the entire period of treatment of bacterial peritonitis (BP), exit-site infection (ESI), or tunnel infection (TI) prevents later appearance of fungal peritonitis (called secondary) in patients with chronic kidney disease stage 5 in a peritoneal dialysis (PD) program. ♢

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All patients treated in the PD program in RTS Ltda Sucursal Caldas, during the period 1 June 2004 to 30 October 2007 were screened. Patients that had infectious bacterial complications (BP, ESI, TI) were included in a prospective randomized trial to receive or not receive oral fluconazole (200 mg every 48 hours) throughout the time period required by the administration of therapeutic antibiotics via any route. It was evaluated whether the fungal peritonitis complication appeared within 30 - 150 days following the end of antibacterial treatment. Based on local results, the sample size necessary to obtain statistically significant results was determined to be 434 episodes of peritonitis. ♢

RESULTS

The 434 episodes of peritonitis presented between the previously specified dates and during this same period there were 174 ESI or TI, of which only 52 received oral antibiotic treatment. Information in relation to consumption of antibiotics for purposes other than BP, ESI, and TI was not reliable and thus this variable was excluded. Among the episodes of peritonitis, 402 (92.6%) were of bacterial origin and 32 (7.3%) were mycotic, mainly Candida species [30 (93.75%)]. Of the fungal peritonitis, 14 (43.73%) were primary (without prior use of antibiotics) and 18 (56.25%) were secondary. In the group of patients that received prophylaxis with fluconazole (210 for BP and 26 for ESI or TI), only 3 occurrences of fungal peritonitis were observed within 30 - 150 days of its administration, which is opposite to the group without prophylaxis (210 for BP and 26 for ESI or TI), in which 15 occurrences of fungal peritonitis were detected. Statistical analysis of the group of patients with BP found comparisons of the proportions of those receiving fluconazole (0.92%) or not (6.45%) presented a highly significant difference in favor of prophylaxis (p = 0.0051, Z = 2.8021). Given that only 1 patient in each group with ESI or TI, with or without prophylaxis, presented the complication fungal peritonitis, it was concluded that this result was not statistically significant. During laparoscopic surgery attempting reintroduction of the peritoneal catheter, it was found that 11 patients had severe adhesions or peritoneal fibrosis leading to obliteration of the peritoneal cavity. In 19 patients, reintroduction of the catheter was possible and the patients returned to PD without consequence. ♢

CONCLUSION

In patients with bacterial peritonitis, administration of prophylactic oral fluconazole throughout the time they received antibiotics significantly prevented the appearance of secondary fungal peritonitis.

Fungal peritonitis complicating peritoneal dialysis during an 11-year period: report of 46 cases

The incidence of fungal peritonitis (FP) and the fungi that caused FP were evaluated in 422 patients treated with peritoneal dialysis. During an 11-year period, 804 episodes of peritonitis occurred, 46 (5.7%) of which were caused by fungi. Treatment was successful for 39 patients. Early diagnosis of FP and prompt therapy decreases morbidity and mortality.

Fatal peritonitis due to Trichoderma sp. in a patient undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

We describe a rare case of peritonitis caused by an unusual fungus, Trichoderma sp., in a patient on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Management of the patient consisted of Tenckhoff catheter removal and antifungal chemotherapy, but the patient died.