From the Research
The recommended duration of Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal (CAP) treatment is generally 5-7 days for most patients, as supported by the most recent and highest quality study 1. The treatment duration for CAP has been a topic of debate, with various studies suggesting different durations. However, the most recent study 1 published in 2023, suggests that a shorter treatment duration of 5-7 days is sufficient for most patients. This study found that several studies and meta-analyses demonstrated that the treatment duration of 7 days or less was sufficient for CAP. Some key points to consider when determining the treatment duration for CAP include:
- Clinical criteria, such as stability and resolution of symptoms, should be used to guide treatment decisions 1
- Procalcitonin can be used as a biomarker to help determine the duration of therapy 2
- Patients with severe illness, immunocompromise, or complications like lung abscess may require longer treatment courses of 10-14 days 3
- Patients with Pseudomonas or MRSA infections also typically need extended therapy 3 It's worth noting that the evidence from older studies 4, 5, 2 also supports the use of shorter treatment durations for CAP, but the most recent study 1 provides the strongest evidence for this approach. Additionally, the use of antibiotic stewardship interventions can help reduce treatment duration and improve patient outcomes 3.