One-dose cefuroxime i.v. and i.p. reduces microbial growth in PD patients after catheter insertion.

BACKGROUND When a peritoneal dialysis catheter is inserted intra-abdominally in a patient starting peritoneal dialysis (PD) there is always a risk for postoperative wound infection and peritonitis. At our centre, PD is started immediately after the dialysis catheter is inserted. This may increase the postoperative risk for peritonitis and wound infection. The aim of this prospective, randomized, study was to evaluate whether the incidence of microbial growth postoperatively (within 10 days) after catheter insertion could be reduced by prophylactic antibiotic therapy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS During a period of 27 months, 38 patients, who consecutively entered the PD programme, (11 women and 27 men, mean age 57 years) were included in the study. Eighteen patients were given cefuroxime 1.5 g i.v. preoperatively and 250 mg i.p. in the first dialysis bag (containing 1 litre fluid) as prophylaxis. Twenty patients were not given prophylactic antibiotics (control group). All catheter insertions were performed in an operating theatre by the same surgeons using the same technique. RESULTS In the test group, none of the patients showed microbial growth in the dialysis fluid during the post-operative period, while in the control group six of 20 patients (30%) suffered from such growth (P = 0.021). CONCLUSION Prophylactic treatment by cefuroxime i.v. pre- and i.p. perioperatively may reduce the risk for microbial growth and peritonitis after insertion of a Tenckhoff catheter.