Abstract: Objective To identify the clinical characteristics of relapsing, recurrent and repeated peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted in the 116 peritonitis patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) from January 2005 to December 2009 in this hospital. They were divided into four groups: relapsing group, recurrent group, repeated group and single group. Clinical data, pathogenic bacteria and clinical outcomes of the four groups were compared. Results The relapsing and repeat peritonitis were usually caused by coagulase negative staphylococcus species, whereas recurrent peritonitis was often caused by Gram-negative organisms. In the relapsing, recurrent, repeated and single groups, the response rate to therapy was 88.37%, 66.67%, 80.65% and 86.67%, respectively, the complete cure rate was 62.79%, 41.67%, 67.74% and 73.33%, respectively, and the mortality rate was 6.98%, 16.67%, 9.68% and 6.67%, respectively. Therefore, patients in recurrent group had a lower response rate to therapy, lower complete cure rate and higher mortality rate. Conclusions Relapsing, recurrent and repeated peritonitis were of distinct clinical significances. Recurrent peritonitis had lower rate of primary response to therapy, increased rate of catheter extubation and higher rate of mortality. Clinically, more attention should be paid to the recurrent peritonitis in PD-related peritonitis.

Key words: Peritonitis, Relapsing