Clinical characteristics and outcomes of peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis with different trends of change in effluent white cell count: a longitudinal study

Clinical practice guideline for the prevention and management of peritoneal dialysis associated infections in children: 2024 update

Infection-related complications remain the most significant cause for morbidity and technique failure in infants, children and adolescents who receive maintenance peritoneal dialysis (PD). The 2024 update of the Clinical Practice Guideline for the Prevention and Management of Peritoneal Dialysis Associated Infection in Children builds upon previous such guidelines published in 2000 and 2012 and provides comprehensive treatment guidance as recommended by an international group of pediatric PD experts based upon a review of published literature and pediatric PD registry data. The workgroup prioritized updating key clinical issues contained in the 2012 guidelines, in addition to addressing additional questions developed using the PICO format. A variety of new guideline statements, highlighted by those pertaining to antibiotic therapy of peritonitis as a result of the evolution of antibiotic susceptibilities, antibiotic stewardship and clinical registry data, as well as new clinical benchmarks, are included. Recommendations for future research designed to fill important knowledge gaps are also provided.

Risk Factors of the Occurrence and Treatment Failure of Refractory Peritoneal Dialysis-Associated Peritonitis: A Single-Center Retrospective Study From China

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of refractory peritoneal dialysis (PD)-associated peritonitis as well as the risk factors of its occurrence and treatment failure.

METHODS

A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted among 519 patients undergoing PD from January 2007 to October 2021. According to the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis guidelines, all episodes occurred in our center were divided into two groups: refractory and nonrefractory. Demographic, biochemical, and pathogenic bacteria and treatment outcome data were collected.

RESULTS

During the 15-year period, 282 episodes of peritonitis occurred in 166 patients undergoing PD. The refractory rate was 34.0% (96/282). Gram-positive organisms were the leading cause of peritonitis (47.9%); however, gram-negative organisms were predominant in refractory peritonitis (34.4%, p = 0.002). Multiple logistic regression revealed that gram-negative organism-based peritonitis, longer PD duration, and female sex were the significant independent predictors of refractory peritonitis. Among 96 refractory episodes, white blood cell (WBC) count, dialysate WBC on Day 3, and PD duration ≥5 years were the independent risk factors of treatment failure.

CONCLUSIONS

Gram-negative organism-based peritonitis, longer PD duration, and female sex were the independent risk factors of refractory peritonitis. Refractory peritonitis with higher WBC count, higher dialysate WBC on Day 3, and PD duration ≥5 years increased treatment failure risk and required immediate PD catheter removal. The timely identification of refractory peritonitis with high risk of treatment failure as well as timely PD catheter removal is important.

Peritoneal Dialysis-Related Infections

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) represents an important treatment choice for patients with kidney failure. It allows them to dialyze outside the hospital setting, facilitating enhanced opportunities to participate in life-related activities, flexibility in schedules, time and cost savings from reduced travel to dialysis centers, and improved quality of life. Despite its numerous advantages, PD utilization has been static or diminishing in parts of the world. PD-related infection, such as peritonitis, exit-site infection, or tunnel infection, is a major concern for patients, caregivers, and health professionals-which may result in hesitation to consider this as treatment or to cease therapy when these complications take place. In this review, the definition, epidemiology, risk factors, prevention, and treatment of PD-related infection on the basis of the contemporary evidence will be described.

Association between dialysis effluent leukocyte count after initial antibiotic treatment and outcomes of patients with peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Among patients with peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis (PDAP), It has been regarded as an indicator of deterioration of clinical condition that peritoneal dialysis effluent leukocyte count (PDELC) cannot be restored to normal after initial antibiotic therapy. However, the precise relationship between PDELC on day 5 and the clinical outcomes of PDAP episodes remains uncertain.

AIMS

To explore the association between PDELC on day 5 and clinical outcomes of PDAP episodes.

METHODS

This retrospective study was based on the medical chart database of the Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University. Multivariable regressions were used to evaluate the association between PDELC on day 5 and 60-day mortality, half-year mortality, treatment failure, and the length of stay in hospital with adjustment for confounding factors.

RESULTS

A total of 549 PDAP episodes in 309 patients were enrolled. The total 60-day mortality, half-year mortality, and rate of treatment failure was 6.0%, 9.8%, and 14.2%, respectively. Compared with patients with normal PDELC, those with PDELC ≥2000 × 106/L on day 5 had significantly higher 60-day mortality (31.1% vs 2.7%), half-year mortality (35.6% vs 5.6%), and treatment failure (46.7% vs 5.7%). In multivariate adjusted regression, the ORs (95%CI) were 6.99 (2.33, 20.92; p = 0.001), 4.97(1.93, 12.77; p = 0.001), and 5.77 (2.07, 16.11; p = 0.001), respectively. Patients with PDELC were 100-2000 × 106/L on day 5 had a higher rate of treatment failure than those with normal PDELC (26.9% vs 5.7%) (OR = 3.03, 95%CI 1.42, 6.46; p = 0.004). After sensitivity analysis, the results remained robust.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with PDAP, increased PDELC on day 5 was associated with a greater risk of 60-day mortality, half-year mortality, and treatment failure.

Pre-Peritoneal Dialysis Peritonitis After Saline Infusion Sonohysterogram in a Patient With an Embedded Catheter: A Case Report

Rationale

Clear guidelines currently exist regarding antibiotic prophylaxis for patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) prior to common diagnostic procedures. However, these guidelines do not include patients with subcutaneously embedded PD catheters who are awaiting PD initiation although both these populations share a great deal of risk factors for infections. Issues regarding antibiotic prophylaxis and avoidable infections are bound to keep occurring if physicians are not conscious of the risks of infections shared by all patients suffering from renal failure.

Presenting concerns

Two weeks after a saline infusion sonohysterography (SIS), a 48-year-old woman with chronic kidney disease (CKD) G5 ND, type 2 diabetes, a subcutaneously embedded PD catheter, and prior abnormal uterine bleeding presented to the emergency department complaining of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and abdominal pain. The patient received no antibiotic prophylaxis prior to her SIS.

Diagnoses

The final diagnosis of peritonitis was established after acute kidney injury, gastroenteritis, and small bowel obstruction were considered and ruled out. A delay in the final diagnosis occurred because of the complex presentation, the fact that the patient had not yet initiated PD, and the presence of concomitant anion gap metabolic acidosis and an acute elevation of the patient's creatinine.

Interventions

The patient was started on broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics when the diagnosis of peritonitis was established. Insulin and intravenous bicarbonate infusions were used to correct the patient's anion gap metabolic acidosis. Surgical debridement of the necrotic subcutaneous tissue and removal of the embedded PD catheter were necessary.

Outcomes

The patient's infection resolved completely as did her anion gap metabolic acidosis. The patient had to transfer permanently from PD to hemodialysis for her renal replacement therapy.

Teaching points

This case report serves as a good reminder that physicians should keep in mind the possibility of peritonitis in patients with embedded PD catheters. As these patients are also at risk of infections, antibiotic prophylaxis should be used in patients with embedded catheters in the same way it is used for PD patients prior to obstetrical, gynecological, or gastrointestinal procedures.

[Development and validation of a prediction model for treatment failure in peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis patients: a multicenter study]

OBJECTIVE

To develop and validate a risk prediction model of treatment failure in patients with peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis (PDAP).

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) in 3 dialysis centers in Jilin Province who developed PDAP between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2019. The data collected from the Second Hospital of Jilin University and Second Division of First Hospital of Jilin University) were used as the training dataset and those from Jilin Central Hospital as the validation dataset. We developed a nomogram for predicting treatment failure using a logistic regression model with backward elimination. The performance of the nomogram was assessed by analyzing the C-statistic and the calibration plots. We also plotted decision curves to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the nomogram.

RESULTS

A total of 977 episodes of PDAP were included in the analysis (625 episodes in the training dataset and 352 episodes in the validation dataset). During follow-up, 78 treatment failures occurred in the training dataset and 35 in the validation dataset. A multivariable logistic regression prediction model was established, and the predictors in the final nomogram model included serum albumin, peritoneal dialysate white cell count on day 5, PD duration, and type of causative organisms. The nomogram showed a good performance in predicting treatment failure, with a C-statistic of 0.827 (95% CI: 0.784-0.871) in the training dataset and of 0.825 (95% CI: 0.743-0.908) in the validation dataset. The nomogram also performed well in calibration in both the training and validation datasets.

CONCLUSION

The established nomogram has a good accuracy in estimating the risk of treatment failure in PDAP patients.

ISPD peritonitis guideline recommendations: 2022 update on prevention and treatment

Peritoneal dialysis (PD)-associated peritonitis is a serious complication of PD and prevention and treatment of such is important in reducing patient morbidity and mortality. The ISPD 2022 updated recommendations have revised and clarified definitions for refractory peritonitis, relapsing peritonitis, peritonitis-associated catheter removal, PD-associated haemodialysis transfer, peritonitis-associated death and peritonitis-associated hospitalisation. New peritonitis categories and outcomes including pre-PD peritonitis, enteric peritonitis, catheter-related peritonitis and medical cure are defined. The new targets recommended for overall peritonitis rate should be no more than 0.40 episodes per year at risk and the percentage of patients free of peritonitis per unit time should be targeted at >80% per year. Revised recommendations regarding management of contamination of PD systems, antibiotic prophylaxis for invasive procedures and PD training and reassessment are included. New recommendations regarding management of modifiable peritonitis risk factors like domestic pets, hypokalaemia and histamine-2 receptor antagonists are highlighted. Updated recommendations regarding empirical antibiotic selection and dosage of antibiotics and also treatment of peritonitis due to specific microorganisms are made with new recommendation regarding adjunctive oral N-acetylcysteine therapy for mitigating aminoglycoside ototoxicity. Areas for future research in prevention and treatment of PD-related peritonitis are suggested.

Characteristics Analysis, Clinical Outcome and Risk Factors for Fungal Peritonitis in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: A 10-Year Case-Control Study

Background: Fungal peritonitis (FP) is a rare but severe complication that can appear in patients receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD). This study aimed to investigate the incidence rate and clinical characteristics of FP, evaluate clinical outcomes between FP and bacterial peritonitis (BP) patients on PD, and especially estimate the risk factors for FP outbreak.

Methods: All episodes of FP diagnosed in our hospital from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2020, were reviewed in this single-center study. FP cases were analyzed and compared with patients diagnosed with BP in a 1:6 ratio matching for case-control study. Patient information, including clinical information, biochemical analysis, and outcomes, was recorded. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression model were used to analyze the risk factors for FP.

Results: A total of 15 FP episodes were observed in 15 PD patients, with an FP rate of 0.0071 episodes per patient-year. Seventeen strains of fungi were isolated and identified. Candida was the most common pathogen (15 strains, 88.2%), followed by Aspergillus fumigatus (2 strains, 11.8%). Between the groups, FP group showed a higher rate of HD transfer and catheter removal, and a lower rate of PD resumption in the short-term outcome (all P < 0.01), while no significant difference in the mortality was noted during the whole study period. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that longer PD duration (odds ratio [OR] 1.042, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.012–1.073, P < 0.01), higher serum potassium (OR 3.373, 95% CI 1.068–10.649, P < 0.05), elevated estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (OR 1.845, 95% CI 1.151–2.955, P < 0.05), reduced serum albumin level (OR 0.820, 95% CI 0.695–0.968, P < 0.05) and peritoneal effluent polymorphonuclear (PMN) count (OR 0.940, 95%CI 0.900–0.981, P < 0.01) were significantly increased the risk for FP.

Conclusion: These results suggested that FP leads to higher rate of catheter removal and HD transfer, and a lower rate of PD resumption than BP, and that additional attention should be paid to hypoalbuminemia, increased serum potassium, long PD duration, and low peritoneal effluent PMN in PD patients.

Peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis caused by gram-negative organisms: ten-years experience in a single center

Objectives

Concerns are increasing about the clinical characteristics of gram- negative bacterial peritonitis for providing reference for clinical diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed examining patients who developed peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis (PDRP) from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2018.

Results

Among 898 PD patients, 677 episodes of peritonitis occurred in 344 patients. Over 10 years, the proportion of gram-negative bacterial peritonitis increased from 0% to 26.15% (p = .045). E. coli was the leading cause (38.51%) of the 148 cases of gram-negative bacterial peritonitis. The increase of E. coli peritonitis between the first 5 and the last 5 years was obvious (20.45% vs. 46.15%). The antimicrobial sensitivity of gram-negative organisms to cefotaxime decreased from 71.43% to 55.84% (p = .017). In the gram-negative group, the effluent white cell count (WCC) on the first day was larger (OR: 1.374;95%CI: 1.248–1.563; p < .001), the time required for the WCC to normalize was longer (OR: 1.100;95%CI: 1.037–1.189; p = .003), and the level of C-reactive protein (CRP) was higher (OR: 1.038;95%CI: 1.026–1.042; p < .001) than those in the gram-positive group. The complete cure rate and treatment failure rate of gram-negative bacteria peritonitis were 87.8% and 12.2% respectively.

Conclusions

Over 10 years, the proportion of gram-negative bacterial peritonitis increased, with E. coli epidermidis being the most common pathogen. More effluent WCC on the first day, longer time required for the WCC to normalize, and higher level of CRP are more common for gram-negative bacterial peritonitis. Prognosis of gram-negative bacterial peritonitis is worse.

Long-term trends in the incidence of peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis disclose an increasing relevance of streptococcal infections: A longitudinal study

Background

The selective impact of strategies for prevention of PD-related peritonitis (PDrP) may have modified, in the long term, the causal spectrum, clinical presentation and outcomes of these infections.

Objectives

To compare trends in the incidence of PDrP by different microorganisms during a 30-year period, with a particular focus on streptococcal infections. To analyze the clinical presentation and outcomes of these infections. Secondarily, to investigate how the isolation of different species of streptococci can influence the clinical course of PDrP by this genus of bacteria.

Method

Following a retrospective, observational design we investigated 1061 PDrP (1990–2019). We used joinpoint regression analysis to explore trends in the incidence of PDrP by different microorganisms, and compared the risk profile (Cox), clinical presentation and outcomes (logistic regression) of these infections.

Main results

Our data showed a progressive decline in the incidence of PDrP by staphylococci and Gram negative bacteria, while the absolute rates of streptococcal (average annual percent change +1.6%, 95% CI -0.1/+3.2) and polymicrobial (+1.8%, +0.1/+3.5) infections tended to increase, during the same period. Remarkably, streptococci were isolated in 58.6% of polymicrobial infections, and patients who suffered a streptococcal PDrP had a 35.8% chance of presenting at least one other infection by the same genus. The risk profile for streptococcal infections was comparable to that observed for PDrP overall. Streptococcal PDrP were associated with a severe initial inflammatory response, but their clinical course was generally nonaggressive thereafter. We did not observe a differential effect of different groups of streptococci on the clinical presentation or outcome of PDrP.

Conclusions

Time trends in the incidence of PDrP by different microorganisms have granted streptococci an increasing relevance as causative agents of these infections, during the last three decades. This behaviour suggests that current measures of prevention of PDrP may not be sufficiently effective, in the case of this genus of microorganisms.

Use of Peritoneal Dialysis in Acute Kidney Injury: How Far Away?

Acute kidney injury (AKI) has become a worldwide public health problem, resulting in a high risk of mortality and progression to chronic kidney disease. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) can be an effective renal support for AKI, especially in regions where medical resources are limited, but actually underused. In this article, the current barriers and challenges of use of PD in AKI are discussed, including health strategy and medical resources, PD team organization, and technique-specific factors. Currently, we are just on the starting line of the campaign of acute PD. It is still a long way to the development of PD as a mature treatment in AKI.

Multidisciplinary predialysis education reduces incidence of peritonitis and subsequent death in peritoneal dialysis patients: 5-year cohort study

Background

Technique failure secondary to peritonitis is a grave impediment to remain in peritoneal dialysis (PD) therapy leading to high mortality. Multidisciplinary predialysis education (MPE) has shown improvement in outcomes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. However, the legacy effects of MPE in PD patients remain unclear.

Methods

All patients who started PD at single hospital in 2007–16 were enrolled. The incidences of peritonitis and peritonitis-related mortality were compared between MPE recipients and non-recipients. The content of the MPE was standardized in accordance with the NKF/DOQI guidelines. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards model were applied to identify the prognostic factors associated with peritonitis-free survival.

Results

Of 398 PD patients, 169 patients had received MPE before starting PD. The patients of MPE group had a lower peritonitis rate [median (IQR) 0 (0.29) versus 0.11 (0.69) episodes/person-year, P< 0.001] and a lower percentage of peritonitis-related deaths (3.6% versus 8.7%, P = 0.04) compared with the non-MPE group. The median time to the first episode of peritonitis in the non-MPE and MPE groups was 33.9 months and 46.7 months, respectively (Cox-Mantel log rank test, P = 0.003). Cox regression analysis revealed that MPE assignment (HR: 0.594; 95% CI: 0.434–0.813, P< 0.001) were significant independent predictors for peritonitis-free survival.

Conclusions

An efficient standardized MPE program may prolong the time to the first episode of peritonitis and reduce peritonitis rate, independent of age, gender, diabetes, hypertension, educational status and PD modality. Subsequently, decreased peritonitis-related death.

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.

Automated analysis for differentiating leukocytes in body fluids using the software "biological liquid application" on ADVIA2120/2120i hematology analyzer

INTRODUCTION

We evaluated the "Biological liquid application ADVIA2120" software for differentiating the percentage of polymorphonucleated (%PMN) and mononucleated cells (%MN) in ascitic, pleural, and peritoneal dialysis (PD) fluid.

METHODS

Biological fluid test results of 193 specimens obtained by automated methods (87 with and 106 without dedicated software) were compared with May-Grünwald-Giemsa (MGG) stained blood smears. Limit of detection (LoD) and quantitation (LoQ), repeatability, and inaccuracy were assessed.

RESULTS

Good agreement between the automated methods with dedicated software and the manual method for %PMN and %MN was obtained for leukocyte differentiation in ascitic and pleural fluids, while correlation with the manual method for PD fluid was poor, both with and without the dedicated software.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that the automated differentiation of leukocytes with dedicated software on the ADVIA2120 analyzer for body fluids is a good alternative to the microscopic reference method for peritoneal and pleural specimens, but not for PD fluids.

High Levels of Soluble C5b-9 Complex in Dialysis Fluid May Predict Poor Prognosis in Peritonitis in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

BACKGROUND

We searched for indicators to predict the prognosis of infectious peritonitis by measuring levels of complement proteins and activation products in peritoneal dialysis (PD) fluid (PDF) of patients at early stages of peritonitis. We retrospectively analyzed the relationship between the levels of sC5b-9, C3 and C4 in PDF and the subsequent clinical prognosis.

METHODS

We measured levels of sC5b-9, C3 and C4 in PDF on days 1, 2 and 5 post-onset of peritonitis in 104 episodes of infectious peritonitis in PD patients from 2008 and retrospectively compared levels with clinical outcomes. Further analysis for the presence of causative microorganisms or to demonstrate bacterial culture negative peritonitis was performed and correlated with change of levels of sC5b-9 in PDF.

RESULTS

When PD patients with peritonitis were divided into groups that either failed to recover from peritonitis and were finally withdrawn from PD (group 1; n = 25) or recovered (group 2; n = 79), levels of sC5b-9, C3 and C4 in PDF were significantly higher in group 1 patients compared to those in group 2 on day5. Analysis of microorganisms showed significantly higher sC5b-9 levels in PDF of peritonitis cases caused by culture negative peritonitis in group 1 compared with group 2 when we analyzed for individual microorganisms. Of note, on day5, the sC5b-9 levels in PDF were similarly high in peritonitis caused by fungi or other organisms.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggested that levels of complement markers in PDF, especially sC5b-9, have potential as surrogate markers to predict prognosis of PD-related peritonitis.

Dialysate White Blood Cell Change after Initial Antibiotic Treatment Represented the Patterns of Response in Peritoneal Dialysis-Related Peritonitis

Background. Patients with peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis usually have different responses to initial antibiotic treatment. This study aimed to explore the patterns of response by using the changes of dialysate white blood cell count on the first five days of the initial antibiotic treatment. Materials and Methods. A retrospective cohort study was conducted. All peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis episodes from January 2014 to December 2015 were reviewed. We categorized the patterns of antibiotic response into 3 groups: early response, delayed response, and failure group. The changes of dialysate white blood cell count for each pattern were determined by multilevel regression analysis. Results. There were 644 episodes in 455 patients: 378 (58.7%) of early response, 122 (18.9%) of delayed response, and 144 (22.3%) of failure episodes. The patterns of early, delayed, and failure groups were represented by the average rate reduction per day of dialysate WBC of 68.4%, 34.0%, and 14.2%, respectively (p value < 0.001 for all comparisons). Conclusion. Three patterns, which were categorized by types of responses, have variable rates of WBC declining. Clinicians should focus on the delayed response and failure patterns in order to make a decision whether to continue medical therapies or to aggressively remove the peritoneal catheter.

The Association of Individual and Regional Socioeconomic Status on Initial Peritonitis and Outcomes in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study

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BACKGROUND

Research indicates that the socioeconomic status (SES) of individuals and the area where they live are related to initial peritonitis and outcomes in peritoneal dialysis (PD). We conducted a retrospective, multi-center cohort study in China to examine these associations. ♦

METHODS

Data on 2,171 PD patients were collected from 7 centers, including baseline demographic, socioeconomic, and laboratory data. We explored the potential risk factors for initial peritonitis and outcomes using univariate Cox regression and unadjusted binary logistic regression. Then, we used propensity score matching to balance statistically significant risk factors for initial peritonitis and outcomes, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to compare differences in peritonitis-free rates between different groups of participants after matching. ♦

RESULTS

A total of 563 (25.9%) initial episodes of peritonitis occurred during the study period. The Kaplan-Meier peritonitis-free rate curve showed high-income patients had a significantly lower risk than low-income patients (p = 0.007) after matching for age, hemoglobin, albumin, and regional SES and PD center. The risk of treatment failure was significantly lower in the high-income than the low-income group after matching for the organism causing peritonitis and PD center: odds ratio (OR) = 0.27 (0.09 - 0.80, p = 0.018). Regional SES and education were not associated with initial peritonitis and outcomes. ♦

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates low individual income is a risk factor for the initial onset of peritonitis and treatment failure after initial peritonitis.