Objective: To clarify the peritonitis rate and to characterize the differences between the peritonitis and non-peritonitis group in ESRD children using continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) in Khon Kaen, Thailand.

Material and Method: The authors reviewed the medical records of ESRD children under 15 years old at the time of PD catheter placement, who received CAPD in Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University between 1994 and 2007.

Results: Eighteen male and fifteen female patients were identified. Their mean age at the time of PD catheter placement was 11.48 + 3.12 years (range, 3.52-15.67). Twenty patients (11 male and 9 female) were complicated with 47 episodes of peritonitis during 400.44 patient-months. The peritonitis rate was one episode every 8.52 patient-months. The three most frequent clinical presentations were cloudy effluent (78.72%), abdominal pain (76.60%) and fever (63.83%). Negative effluent culture was 42.55%. Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus species were the two most frequent causative organisms. The dialysis duration and serum creatinine level were significantly different between the peritonitis and non-peritonitis groups.

Conclusion: Peritonitis frequently occurred in ESRD children treated by CAPD in Northeast Thailand, particularly from gram-positive organisms. The dialysis duration and serum creatinine level at the time of catheter placement were associated with PD peritonitis.

Keywords: Peritonitis, Peritoneal dialysis, Children, End-stage renal disease