Tuberculous peritonitis in patients on chronic peritoneal dialysis: case reports.

Two cases of tuberculous (TB) peritonitis on chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD) are described. The cases were diagnosed by positive acid fast bacilli (AFB) culture from the PD fluid effluent. Catheter removal and transfer to hemodialysis were needed in one, while the other remained on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. The patients recovered with antituberculous therapy. A high index of suspicion for early diagnosis and treatment is emphasized. A six-month course of anti-TB drugs for TB peritonitis is a viable option of therapy.

Chronic peritoneal dialysis a single-center experience.

OBJECTIVE: In Saudi Arabia, experience with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) as a renal replacement therapy is limited, and publications are scanty. The present study was undertaken to evaluate CAPD in the Saudi population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients managed by CAPD from May 1993 to September 2002 were included in the study. Tenckhoff indwelling silicone-rubber double-cuff catheters were surgically implanted. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) was started 2 weeks after catheter insertion. Generally, 2-L exchanges 4 times daily were used. Our total of 91 PD patients included 50 men in the age range 13 - 80 years (mean: 48 +/- 18 years), and 41 women in the age range 16 - 76 years (mean: 52 +/- 18 years). Forty-nine patients performed dialysis by themselves; 42 patients needed a helper. RESULTS: Between April 2001 and September 2002, we noted, on average, 1 episode of peritonitis per 21 patient-months and 1 episode of exit-site infection per 24 patient-months. The most common causative organisms for peritonitis were Pseudomonas (16%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (16%), and Staphylococcus aureus (7%). No organisms were grown in 13% of peritonitis episodes. The organisms most commonly responsible for exit-site infection were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (50%) and Staphylococcus (31%). We removed catheters from 32 patients, 12 of those for mechanical reasons. Of the 20 patients whose catheter was removed for infection, P. aeruginosa was cultured in 11 cases. Nine of 23 patients switched to hemodialysis were switched for refractory peritonitis. By the end of the study, 38 patients were still on CAPD, 23 had been switched to hemodialysis, 10 had undergone renal transplantation, and 20 had died. The major causes of death were peritonitis with sepsis (n = 6), cardiovascular causes (n = 5), and sudden death at home or in other hospitals (n = 5). CONCLUSION: Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis is a viable option of renal replacement therapy in Saudi Arabia. The main problem encountered was peritonitis.

Spectrum of tuberculosis in dialysis patients in saudi arabia.

Data from different regional hospitals of Saudi Arabia were collected to know the prevalence, clinical features and results of therapy of tuberculosis, in patients on dialysis. Eight hospitals located in five different provinces of Saudi Arabia were involved. There were 132 patients with TB on dialysis of whom 75 were males (mean ages in different hospitals ranging 42-58 years) and 57 were females (mean ages ranging 38-58 years). The prevalence of TB in these patients varied from 2.4 to 14.5% with an average of 7%, which is 12 times commoner than in the general population of Saudi Arabia. The presenting clinical features were fever (65%), cough (17%), weight loss (59%) and anorexia (58%). The organs/systems involved by TB were pulmonary in 73 (55.3%), lymphadenopathy in 30 (22.7%) peritoneal in 27 (20.4%) and bone in seven (5.3%). The diagnosis of TB was made by X-ray chest in 73, positive acid fast bacilli in sputum in 38, lymph node biopsy in 30, ascitic fluid examination in 20 and other tests in 17 patients. Four anti-TB drugs namely, isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (Rif), ethambutol (Eth) and pyrazinamide (Pyra) were used in 58 patients (44%) for six months; three drugs namely, INH, Rif, and Eth or Pyra were used in 61 patients (46%) for a variable period of six to 12 months. A total of 28 (21%) patients expired, eight while on therapy, one before starting the therapy and 19 after they were cured of TB. The main causes of death were sepsis in eight (28.5%), cardiovascular in seven (25%) and sudden death in six (21%). TB was not the direct cause of death in any of the patients except one, in whom it could be contributory.