Risk factors for poor outcome of fungal peritonitis in Chinese patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Fungal peritonitis is rare among end-stage renal disease patients treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), but when it occurs, it is associated with a high risk of mortality and peritoneal membrane failure. In the present study, we identified risk factors for poor outcome and examined the effect of treatment profile on outcome in fungal peritonitis.

We identified cases of fungal peritonitis in CAPD patients in a regional dialysis center and analyzed the possible risk factors for poor outcome in fungal peritonitis. To estimate the amount of dextrose presented to the peritoneum, we scored the dextrose content of the peritoneal dialysis fluid used by the patient at the time of admission to hospital (1 point to each bag of 1.5% fluid, 2 points to each bag of 2.3% or 2.5% fluid, and 3 points to each bag of 4.25% fluid daily).

Among 471 episodes of CAPD-related peritonitis in 7.8 years, we identified 22 episodes of fungal peritonitis (4.7%). The ratio of men to women in the fungal peritonitis group was 1.4:1. Seventeen patients (77.3%) practiced dialysis without a helper. Within the 3 months preceding the fungal peritonitis, 12 patients (55%) had had bacterial peritonitis. Among the cases of fungal peritonitis, we identified 9 cases of Candida parapsilosis and 13 cases of non C. parapsilosis. All of the patients received fluconazole, and 7 patients (31.8%) also received flucytosine. The Tenckhoff catheter was removed in 17 patients (77.3%). Eight patients (36.4%) either died or lost peritoneal function. The risk of mortality was increased if the fungal organism was C. parapsilosis [odds ratio (OR): 4.25; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.8 to 10.0; p = 0.002], if a helper was involved (OR: 11.3; 95% CI: 1.1 to 114; p = 0.024), or if CAPD duration was more than 26 months (OR: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.3 to 3.5; p = 0.034). Addition of flucytosine to fluconazole did not significantly improve the mortality rate in either the C. parapsilosis or non C. parapsilosis group. Multivariate analysis showed that C. parapsilosis was an independent factor associated with mortality (p = 0.013). A dextrose score greater than 5 was associated with a trend toward increased risk of peritoneal failure (OR: 3.4; 95% CI: 1.6 to 7.1; p = 0.021).

C. parapsilosis is an independent risk factor for mortality in fungal peritonitis.