Abstract: Objectives We aimed to investigate the treatment effectiveness of peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related peritonitis in outpatient clinic through a retrospective study. Methods We reviewed all episodes of PD-related peritonitis in maintenance PD patients followed up in outpatient clinic from Jan 1, 2008 to Dec 31, 2013 in Peking University People’s Hospital. Peritonitis occurred during hospitalization were not included in this study. Patients admitted to the hospital because of severe symptoms and poor general conditions were also excluded. The effect of treatment included cured and ineffective patients. Their demographic data, episode of peritonitis, clinical outcome and laboratory indices were recorded. Results ① During six years, a total of 103 times of peritonitis occurred in the 63 PD patients during home PD, and 80 episodes (77.7%) were treated in outpatient clinic. ②Among the 80 episodes of peritonitis treated in outpatient clinic, 75 episodes were cured (93.8%), 5 were ineffective. ③Compared with the cured patients, the ineffective patients had higher dialysate leukocyte count at the beginning of follow-up in outpatient clinic (t=-2.176, P=0.033). The proportion of Staphylococcus aureus and negative bacterial culture were higher in ineffective patients than in cured patients (Staphylococcus aureus 20% and negative bacterial culture 60% in ineffective patients; Staphylococcus aureus 8.0% and negative bacterial culture 29.3% in cured patients), but without statistical significance (χ2=4.102, P=0.392). Conclusions Under the premise of standardized diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up procedures about peritonitis, outpatient treatment of mild peritonitis is safe and effective. We should pay more attention to those with poor nutrition state, more dialysate leukocytes, and the peritonitis infected with specific pathogens. If necessary, these patients should be admitted to the hospital in time for further management.

Key words: Peritoneal dialysis, Peritonitis, Outpatient treatment, Effectiveness