Abstract: Objective To investigate risk factors, clinical characteristics, and outcome of peritoneal dialysis(PD) related fungal peritonitis(FP). Methods Retrospectively reviewed FP episodes for last five years in our hospital. The clinical characteristics, pathogens, treatment modalities, and outcomes were analyzed and compared with those of gram positive and gram negative bacterial peritonitis. Results Two hundred and five PD related peritonitis episodes were reviewed,of them 20 were FP(9.76%).The age, gender, WBC count in effluent and blood, and mean duration of PD did not show significant difference in FP and bacterial groups(P ＞0.05). However,the occurance of abdominal pain and rebound was obviously higher in FP episodes than in bacterial episodes(P＜0.05). Eighty-five percent of FP episodes had a history of bacterial peritonitis and/or antibiotic use within 1 month before FP. As a result,six patients (30%) died, the other 14 transferred to maintenance hemodialysis(HD), none was able to remain on PD. The mortality and PD technique failure in FP group were significantly higher than that in bacterial groups(P＜0.05). Conclusion The risk factors for FP identified in this study include the use of antibiotics and occurrence of bacterial peritonitis. FP is associated to severe manifestation, poor prognosis and higher mortality. Early catheter removal may help to decrease the mortality.

Key words: Fangal peritonitis