What antibiotics are recommended for peritoneal (peritoneal dialysis) dialysis-associated peritonitis?

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Last updated: June 13, 2025View editorial policy

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From the Guidelines

For peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis, the recommended initial empiric antibiotic therapy typically includes a combination of antibiotics to cover both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms, with a common regimen being vancomycin plus a third-generation cephalosporin such as ceftazidime or an aminoglycoside like gentamicin, as suggested by the most recent guidelines 1.

Key Considerations

  • The choice of empiric antibiotic regimen should be based on the clinical condition of the patient, individual risk for infection by resistant pathogens, and local resistance epidemiology 1.
  • Intraperitoneal (IP) administration is preferred over intravenous for most antibiotics as it achieves higher local concentrations 1.
  • Patients should be monitored for clinical improvement within 48-72 hours; lack of improvement may indicate antibiotic resistance, fungal infection, or catheter-related issues requiring catheter removal 1.
  • Antibiotic dosing may need adjustment based on residual kidney function, and regular monitoring of drug levels (particularly for vancomycin and aminoglycosides) is important to ensure therapeutic concentrations while avoiding toxicity 1.

Recommended Regimen

  • Vancomycin: 20-mg/kg loading dose infused during the last hour of the dialysis session, and then 500 mg during the last 30 min of each subsequent dialysis session 1.
  • Gentamicin (or tobramycin): 1 mg/kg, not to exceed 100 mg after each dialysis session 1.
  • Ceftazidime: 1 g iv after each dialysis session 1.

Duration of Treatment

  • Treatment duration is typically 2-3 weeks, though it may be extended to 3-4 weeks for more severe infections or certain pathogens 1.

Important Notes

  • The results of microbiological testing may have great importance for the choice of therapeutic strategy of every patient at risk for antimicrobial resistance 1.
  • A lack of impact on patient outcomes by bacteriological cultures has been documented in patients with community-acquired IAIs, especially in appendicitis 1.

From the Research

Antibióticos para Peritonitis Asociada a Diálisis Peritoneal

Los antibióticos recomendados para el tratamiento de peritonitis asociada a diálisis peritoneal (PD) varían según la causa y la gravedad de la infección. A continuación, se presentan algunos de los antibióticos que se han utilizado para tratar esta condición:

  • Cefepima: un estudio publicado en el American Journal of Kidney Diseases encontró que la cefepima en monoterapia era no inferior a la terapia combinada de cefazolina y ceftazidima para el tratamiento de peritonitis asociada a diálisis peritoneal continuada ambulatoria (CAPD) 2.
  • Ceftazidima más glicopéptidos: un estudio publicado en BMC Infectious Diseases encontró que la combinación de ceftazidima y glicopéptidos era superior a otras regímenes de antibióticos para el tratamiento inicial de peritonitis asociada a diálisis peritoneal 3.
  • Vancomicina: un estudio publicado en BMC Nephrology encontró que la vancomicina era efectiva para tratar peritonitis asociada a diálisis peritoneal causada por bacterias gram-positivas, especialmente en pacientes con solo efusión turbia 4.
  • Cefazolina más gentamicina: este régimen de antibióticos se ha utilizado comúnmente para tratar peritonitis asociada a diálisis peritoneal, aunque su eficacia puede variar dependiendo de la causa de la infección 3, 5, 6.

Consideraciones para el Tratamiento

Es importante tener en cuenta que la elección del antibiótico debe basarse en la susceptibilidad del patógeno y en la gravedad de la infección. Además, es fundamental monitorear la respuesta al tratamiento y ajustar el régimen de antibióticos según sea necesario. La duración del tratamiento también puede variar dependiendo de la gravedad de la infección y de la respuesta del paciente al tratamiento 5, 6.

Limitaciones de la Evidencia

Es importante destacar que la evidencia disponible sobre el tratamiento de peritonitis asociada a diálisis peritoneal es limitada, y muchos de los estudios publicados tienen una calidad metodológica subóptima. Por lo tanto, es fundamental realizar más investigaciones para determinar el tratamiento más efectivo para esta condición 3, 5, 6.

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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