Cost analysis of peritoneal catheter infections.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Catheters, Indwelling↗
Biomedical subjects
B Piraino
Publications and source records attributed to B Piraino.
Acid excretion and serum electrolyte patterns in patients with advanced chronic renal failure.
Hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis can be seen in advanced chronic renal failure (CRF). To study this further, we measured acid excretion under controlled conditions in 19 patients with severe but stable CRF. Twelve patients had a hyperchloremic metabolite acidosis, 3 had an elevated anion gap acidosis ('delta acidosis'), while the 4 remaining patients had a slightly decreased tCO2 with a normal anion gap and serum chloride level ('mild acidosis'). Ammonium excretion was markedly reduced in CRF patients (11 +/- 1 vs. 32 +/- 2 mEq/day in normal subjects, p less than 0.005), and likewise urinary titratable acid was diminished (18 +/- 2 mEq/day in patients, vs. 28 +/- 3 mEq/day in normal subjects; p less than 0.005). When expressed per 100 ml GFR, ammonium and titratable acid excretion were markedly increased in all groups of patients compared to normal subjects. The Tm for bicarbonate was 22.5 +/- 3.7 mEq/l for all CRF patients and 24 +/- 1 mEq/l for the patients with a hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis. We conclude that the hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis in advanced renal failure is due to diminished excretion of ammonium and titratable acid and is not due to an increased bicarbonate leak. As renal failure advances and renal mass declines, the remaining functioning nephrons hypersecrete acid.
Acidosis↗
The use of subcutaneous erythropoietin in CAPD patients.
There is little data available on the use of erythropoietin in CAPD patients. The available pharmacokinetic and clinical data suggest that a low dose of subcutaneous erythropoietin might be effective. Seven CAPD patients, without active malignancy or infection, self-administered erythropoietin, 2,000 units (a mean of 32 units/kg) subcutaneously, three times a week. The Hct rose from 23% to 31% in a mean treatment time of 7 weeks, or a rate of rise of 1.2% per week. Three of the patients had previously been transfusion dependent. One of these patients and two additional had iron overload (ferritin level greater than 2,000 ng/ml). The drug was paid for by Medicaid (two patients) or private insurance, with the patient paying the uncovered portion, generally 20%. Side effects were minimal. Low dose subcutaneous erythropoietin is effective in CAPD patients.
Adult↗
Catheter infections as a factor in the transfer of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients to hemodialysis.
The effect of peritoneal catheter infections on the transfer of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients to hemodialysis over a 9-year period were examined. Twenty-seven percent (68/247) of all patients were transferred permanently to hemodialysis after a mean of 15 +/- 14 months of CAPD. An additional 29% transferred temporarily one or more times during the study period (mean time of peritoneal dialysis, 35 +/- 23 months). The reasons for permanent transfer to hemodialysis were catheter infections (15/68, 22%), peritonitis (13/68, 19%), catheter infections associated with peritonitis (10/68, 15%), patient preference (9/68, 13%), mechanical problems (4/68, 6%), noncompliance (7/68, 10%), inadequate clearance or ultrafiltration (6/68, 9%), with other reasons for the remainder (4/68, 6%). Temporary transfers to hemodialysis were also mainly due to catheter infections (32%), peritonitis (23%), and simultaneous catheter infections and peritonitis (24%). Catheter infection rates were much higher in the groups that permanently and temporarily were transferred to hemodialysis in comparison with those patients who remained on peritoneal dialysis. We conclude that catheter infections are a leading cause of both temporary and permanent transfer of CAPD patients to hemodialysis.
Bacterial Infections↗
Elevated bone aluminum and suppressed parathyroid hormone levels in hypercalcemic dialysis patients.
We studied 21 dialysis patients who became hypercalcemic without vitamin D or calcium therapy and compared them to 28 dialysis patients who were not hypercalcemic. In the hypercalcemic group, the mean ionized-calcium level was elevated compared to normal subjects (5.4 +/- 0.4 vs. 4.9 +/- 0.1; p less than 0.001), while the ionized-calcium level in the control dialysis patients was below normal (4.5 +/- 0.4 vs. 4.9 +/- 0.1; p less than 0.001). Bone biopsies were performed in all patients. Two thirds of the hypercalcemic patients had low-turnover osteodystrophy (LTO, predominantly osteomalacia), a fraction significantly higher than in the control dialysis patients (13/21 vs. 8/28, respectively; p less than 0.05). The hypercalcemic patients with LTO had markedly elevated surface bone aluminum (63 +/- 24% of all trabecular surfaces). In contrast, the nonhypercalcemic dialysis patients with LTO and all patients with osteitis fibrosa had minimal surface bone aluminum. Hypercalcemic patients with osteitis fibrosa had a significantly lower mean N-terminal parathyroid hormone (PTH) value than did nonhypercalcemic patients with osteitis fibrosa (149 +/- 81 vs. 278 +/- 135 pg/ml, respectively; p less than 0.005). Both mean values were markedly elevated in comparison with those obtained in normal subjects (16 +/- 5 pg/ml). In contrast, patients with LTO, irrespective of the calcium level, had mean PTH values that were not significantly different from those of normal subjects. A PTH level greater than 100 pg/ml was 95% sensitive and 87% specific for osteitis fibrosa, as demonstrated by histomorphometry in nonhypercalcemic dialysis patients. However, this level was only 62% sensitive and 77% specific for a diagnosis of osteitis fibrosa in hypercalcemic dialysis patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Adult↗
Exit-site location does not influence peritoneal catheter infection rate.
Peritoneal catheter infections are a cause of peritonitis, catheter loss, and permanent transfer of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients to hemodialysis. Risk factors for catheter infections have not been delineated. We investigated the location of the peritoneal exit-site location as a risk factor for catheter infection and loss. There was no relationship between catheter infection rates and exit location. Catheters exiting on the beltline had a median infection rate of 0.5 episodes/year, as opposed to 1.2 episodes/year for catheters exiting above the beltline and 0.9 episodes/year for catheters exiting below the beltline (ns). The percentage of catheters that became infected and required removal was the same for catheters exiting above, below, or on the beltline. Although we recommend avoiding the beltline for patient comfort, exit-site location is not an important determinant of infection rates or catheter outcome.
Catheters, Indwelling↗
Resolution of hypercalcemia and aluminum bone disease after renal transplantation.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Adult↗
Variant of Bartter's syndrome with a distal tubular rather than loop of Henle defect.
A 19-year-old normotensive patient had all of the clinical features of Bartter's syndrome: hypokalemia, elevated renin and aldosterone levels and increased excretion of prostaglandin E. In contrast to the patients described by Bartter, the patient had a normal capacity to form solute-free water, suggesting intact loop of Henle function. Baseline potassium and chloride excretion rates were higher than those observed in 5 normal subjects, but the response to intravenous chlorothiazide, a drug which acts in the early distal convolute tubule, was abnormal. While chloride excretion rose by only 61% in this patient, it increased sixfold in the normal subjects. Sodium excretion quadrupled in the controls but less than doubled in this patients. Roughly equivalent increments in potassium excretion occurred in normals and controls, suggesting that the patient's distal potassium-secretory mechanism was intact. Review of the literature indicates that whether the site of the abnormal renal tubular potassium (chloride) leak is the proximal tubule, the loop of Henle or the distal convoluted tubule, patients may achieve features indistinguishable from those previously reported as characteristic for Bartter's syndrome. If loop of Henle malfunction is required to diagnose classical Bartter's syndrome, then our patient (and several reported elsewhere) has a variant form.
Adult↗
Fractures and vertebral bone mineral density in patients with renal osteodystrophy.
We investigated the relationship of CT determined vertebral bone mineral density (BMD), type of renal osteodystrophy, N terminal PTH levels and fracture history in 31 dialysis patients. BMD for patients with bone biopsy documented osteitis fibrosa was 1.6 standard deviation (SD) above the normal value for age and sex matched controls, while those patients with low turnover osteodystrophy had a mean BMD 1.2 SD below normal (p less than 0.0001). Three patients with osteitis fibrosa who had previously been treated with prednisone had a low BMD (1.8 SD below normal, different than O, p = 0.0015). There was no correlation between BMD and time on dialysis (r = 0.1). An N terminal PTH level greater than 150 pg/ml was a sensitive (94%) and specific (100%) method of separating those patients with osteitis fibrosa from those with low turnover osteodystrophy, while BMD was much less useful in this differentiation. A low BMD was not predictive of fracture history but the type of renal osteodystrophy was. Patients with low turnover osteodystrophy had a fracture rate of 0.2 fractures/dialysis year in comparison to those with osteitis fibrosis who had 0.1 fractures/dialysis year. Patients with the former bone disease fractured mainly axial rather than appendicular bones in contrast to those patients with osteitis fibrosa. In conclusion we found that patients with osteitis fibrosa had increased BMD compared to normal while those with low turnover osteodystrophy had decreased BMD, but that the N terminal PTH level was a better predictor of the type of bone disease present than was BMD.
Adult↗
Analysis of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis-related Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections.
The outcomes of all continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis-related infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 33) were analyzed and compared with the outcomes of infections due to all other microorganisms (n = 663) over a seven-year period. There were 16 catheter infections (exit site or tunnel infection or both), seven episodes of peritonitis, and 10 episodes of catheter infections associated with peritonitis due to P. aeruginosa. Catheters were removed in 58 percent (19 of 33) of the infections due to P. aeruginosa, but in only 16 percent (104 of 663) of the infections due to other organisms (p less than 0.01). All P. aeruginosa catheter infections associated with P. aeruginosa peritonitis resulted in catheter loss. P. aeruginosa catheter infections not associated with peritonitis also often did not resolve with antibiotic therapy (nine of 16 or 56 percent of catheters removed compared with 42 of 317 or 13 percent of catheters removed for other organisms, p less than 0.01). However, P. aeruginosa peritonitis episodes that were not associated with a catheter infection were no more likely to result in catheter loss than were peritonitis episodes due to other organisms (one of seven compared with 37 of 256, 14 percent for both). It is concluded that catheter infections due to P. aeruginosa with or without associated peritonitis usually require catheter removal. Conversely, P. aeruginosa peritonitis without a catheter infection often does not require catheter removal.
Aminoglycosides↗
A five-year study of the microbiologic results of exit site infections and peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.
We studied the culture results from 321 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) related infections (exit site, tunnel infections, and peritonitis) in 137 patients over a 5-year period to determine the contribution of exit site and tunnel infections to peritonitis and catheter loss. Seventeen percent of peritonitis episodes were associated temporally and by microbiologic results with exit site or tunnel infections. Twenty-one percent of exit site and tunnel infections and 20% of peritonitis episodes resulted in catheter loss. Peritonitis due to Staphylococcus aureus was more likely to be associated with an exit site or tunnel infection and was more likely to result in loss of the catheter than peritonitis due to Staphylococcus epidermidis. Peritonitis and exit site infections due to Pseudomonas sp also frequently resulted in catheter removal. We found that exit site infections cause significant morbidity in CAPD patients. Further studies in this area are needed.
Catheters, Indwelling↗
Serum electrolyte patterns in end-stage renal disease.
The charts of 70 successive patients presenting for dialysis therapy for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) were evaluated for their serum electrolyte values. The "classical" pattern of low total CO2 (tCO2), elevated anion gap ("delta"), and normal chloride was found in a minority of patients (14 of 70, or 20%). Hyperchloremia was noted in 46%; in 21 patients (30%), this was associated with a normal delta and in 11 (16%), hyperchloremia was accompanied by an elevated delta. Fourteen patients (20%), most with diabetic nephropathy, had normal serum electrolytes. Patients with chronic glomerulonephritis had a hyperchloremic pattern as often as not, and two of four patients with interstitial nephritis demonstrated hyperchloremia without an elevated delta. We conclude that the previously held thesis that hyperchloremia is a rare or absent finding by the time renal failure progresses to ESRD is no longer tenable. Furthermore, a significant minority of ESRD patients may require the initiation of dialysis at a time when their serum electrolytes are still normal.
Acid-Base Equilibrium↗
The influence of peritoneal catheter exit-site infections on peritonitis, tunnel infections, and catheter loss in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.
The importance of exit-site infections (ESIs) as a source of peritonitis and catheter loss in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients is unknown. We collected data on 137 CAPD patients over a 5-year period (2,052 cumulative patient months). Patients with a history of ESIs were more likely to have peritonitis and tunnel infections than patients without a history of ESIs. A larger percentage of patients with a history of ESIs lost catheters and transferred to hemodialysis than those without such a history, independent of the effect of peritonitis. These data confirm the importance of reducing the incidence of ESIs. More information is needed to determine the nature of the relationship between ESIs and peritonitis.
Adult↗
Hypercalcemia in a dialysis patient.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biopsy↗
The problem of compliance with PD exchanges.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Humans↗
An intraperitoneal insulin regimen for diabetics on continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis.
Intraperitoneal insulin requirements were evaluated in six diabetic patients who were switched from continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis to continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis. The mean total daily intraperitoneal insulin dose on continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis was 85% of the mean dose on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (66 +/- 33 vs. 78 +/- 47 units/day, respectively, not significant), with comparable glycemic control. Twenty-five to 58% (mean value, 41%) of the total daily intraperitoneal insulin was administered in the diurnal exchange of the patients on continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis. The ratio of the total intraperitoneal insulin dose on continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis to the subcutaneous insulin dose predialysis was between 1.2 and 2.4 (mean value, 1.9). As guidelines for converting intraperitoneal insulin doses for patients switched from continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis to continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis, we recommend starting continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis with a total daily insulin dose 15% less than the continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis dose and giving approximately 40% of the total daily insulin dose in the diurnal exchange.
Blood Glucose↗
Patient survival with renal replacement therapy in heart transplantation patients.
Long-term survivors of cardiac transplantation are at risk for nephrotoxicity caused by many years of immunosuppressive therapy with cyclosporine or tacrolimus. We report on 12 patients who received heart transplants at the University of Pittsburgh, with subsequent development of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), who received renal replacement therapy at the university affiliated dialysis program. Patients were grouped by initial dialysis modality as intent to treat. Four patients were on chronic hemodialysis (HD) and eight on peritoneal dialysis (PD). Six patients died, two on HD and four on PD. There were 451 deaths per 1000 patient years for patients on PD compared with 273 deaths per 1000 patients years for patients on HD (p < 0.0001), both significantly higher than the United States Renal Data System rate of 178 per 1000 patient years for patients with ESRD who were of similar age and race, p < 0.0001. The survival rate for patients on PD seemed to be worse, but that may be because unstable patients with failing heart transplants were directed toward PD. Efforts should be made to minimize nephrotoxicity after cardiac transplantation.
Adult↗
Staphylococcus aureus infections in dialysis patients: focus on prevention.
Staphylococcus aureus infections are a major cause of morbidity and hospitalization in dialysis patients. The risk of infection relates to the type of access. Patients with acute hemodialysis (HD) catheters are at the greatest risk of S. aureus bacteremia, followed by tunneled HD catheters, and grafts. Patients with a fistula have a rate similar to that of peritoneal (PD) patients. In PD patients, however, S. aureus is the second most common cause of peritonitis, is often associated with a catheter infection, and frequently requires catheter removal for resolution. S. aureus infections in dialysis patients are much more common in nasal carriers. S. aureus moves from the nasal reservoir to the hands and skin, and from there to infect the access. Therefore, prevention of infection can be aimed at treating the carriage or in applying antibiotics at the catheter exit site, thus preventing colonization and subsequent infection of the catheter. For HD patients with a permanent access (either fistula or graft), intranasal mupirocin, twice a day for 5 days followed by a once weekly application, is effective in reducing the risk of S. aureus bacteremia. Cost analysis indicates that treating all patients would result in more cost savings than treating just carriers. For patients with acute HD catheters, exit site mupirocin applied as part of routine care during each HD treatment, reduces the risk of S. aureus exit site infection and bacteremia. For PD patients, S. aureus infections can be diminished by using mupirocin at the exit site as part of daily exit site care. Prophylaxis against S. aureus is under utilized in dialysis patients and, if implemented, could lower the rate of these serious infections.
Anti-Bacterial Agents↗