Assessment and aetiology of peritonitis complicating peritoneal dialysis

Suspect peritonitis in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis who have abdominal pain or cloudy dialysateLi, Wei, , 2022Li, Chow, , 2022. The diagnosis is confirmed by microscopy (dialysis effluent white cell count more than 0.1 x 10⁹/L [after a dwell time of at least 2 hours], with more than 50% neutrophils) and culture of dialysateLi, Wei, , 2022Li, Chow, , 2022. The most common pathogens are coagulase-negative staphylococci (eg Staphylococcus epidermidis), Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacterales, and Streptococcus and Enterococcus species. Fungal infection is uncommon. Polymicrobial peritonitis with enteric organisms (enteric peritonitis) should raise concern for a concurrent intra-abdominal infection.