Abstract: 【Abstract】Objective To decrease the peritonitis rate in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients through the continuous quality improvement (CQI) program, and to analyze the characteristics and outcome of peritonitis in PD patients. Methods We adopted the four-step (PDCA) method, i.e., plan, do, check, act, to design and perform the measures for reducing the prevalence of peritonitis. Eighty-six PD patients were enrolled as control group not using CQI program, and 102 PD patients were recruited as observation group using CQI program. These PD patients were treated in the Peritoneal Dialysis Center, Department of Nephrology, Tongxiang First People's Hospital. The prevalence, clinical characteristics and outcome of peritonitis were compared between the two groups. Results Compared to control group, peritonitis reduced from 0.2093 episodes per year to 0.0980 episodes per year (c2=4.557, P=0.033) in observation group, and Gram-positive bacteria peritonitis reduced from 0.1385 episodes per year to 0.0490 episodes per year (c2=4.424, P=0.035). Peritonitis due to incorrect manipulation of liquid change reduced from 0.1163 episodes per year to 0.0392 episodes per year (c2= 4.020, P=0.045). Conclusion CQI program decreased the peritonitis due to incorrect manipulation of liquid change and the rate of PD-related peritonitis especially the rate of Gram-positive bacteria peritonitis.

Key words: Peritoneal dialysis, Peritonitis, Continuous quality improvement