Exit-site Infections? No Thanks!

Abstract

Infection in the peritoneal catheter exit-site can cause infection in the subcutaneous tunnel, catheter loss, peritonitis, need of haemodialysis treatment. In the relevant literature, the incidence of infection is described within a range of 0.2 – 0.52 cases/patient per year depending on the method applied.

Methodology. In twelve years time our centre treated 65 peritoneal dialysis patients, with an average frequency of 16 per year, who underwent 70272 dialysis (with Peritoneal Automated Cycler). The only method applied to prevent infections included: Amuchina PD (0.55% active chlorine) every dressing change and cleaning, nonwoven 8-layers 5 x 5 cm gauzes preventing bed sore ulcers, one omega-shaped plaster immobilising the catheter and another placed at 8 cm from the exit-site. Results. During the whole study, no infection in the peritoneal catheter exit-site and in the subcutaneous tunnel. Conclusions. We think that the employment of gauzes preventing bed sore in the peritoneal catheter immobilisation prevented skin micro lesions in the catheter exit-site which lead to infections.