Staphylococcus Aureus Peritoneal Catheter-Related Infections: A Cause of Catheter Loss and Peritonitis

To determine the impact of Staphylococcus aureus catheter-related infections in a peritoneal dialysis program we reviewed all S. aureus catheter-related infections in our program over a six-year period. Twenty-five percent (51/204) of patients at risk developed S. aureus catheter exit-site or tunnel infections. S. aureus accounted for 61 % of all positive exit-site cultures; of 320 catheters implemented, 65 were infected with S. aureus. Fifty-one S. aureus-infected patients were retrospectively matched with 51 noninfected patients from our peritoneal dialysis program. Patients with S. aureus catheter-related infections had significantly greater catheter loss from catheter infection and peritonitis. There was significantly more S. aureus peritonitis but less coagulase negative staphylococcus peritonitis in patients with S. aureus catheter-related infections. Significantly more noninfected control patients remained peritonitis free