Are peritoneal host defenses really important?

Peritonitis requires a constant focus of infection plus the presence of foreign material, both amply present in the CAPD patient with an indwelling catheter and universal bacterial biofilm. Amazingly the great variety of potentially cytotoxic and immunodiluent agents with which the CAPD peritoneum is confronted on a daily basis does not produce the gross rate of sepsis that might be predicted. Clearly the profound reserve capacity of the peritoneal defense mechanisms, whose functions and interactions are poorly described and understood, contribute to the continuing success of the CAPD modality.