This is an acute or chronic inflammation (irritation and swelling) of the peritoneum (lining of the abdomenal cavity) that occurs in people receiving peritoneal dialysis .
Alternative Names
Dialysis-associated peritonitis; Continuous ambulatory peritoneal
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
The cause of dialysis-associated peritonitis may be the introduction of bacteria into the peritoneum by the dialysis procedure. Skin bacteria are the most common organisms causing infection. Incidence is about one infection for every 15 months of peritoneal dialysis.
Signs and tests
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.
Tests that can show infection include:
Peritoneal fluid culture , cell count and Gram stain CBC (complete blood count) Blood culture
Expectations (prognosis)
Most patients recover uneventfully.
Complications
Recurrent peritonitis
Intraabdominal abscess Catheter tract infection Removal of the dialysis catheter may be necessary
Calling your health care provider
Call your health care provider if you receive peritoneal dialysis treatments and develop symptoms of peritonitis .
Prevention
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.