Mupirocin application at the exit site in peritoneal dialysis patients: five years of experience

In this study, we aimed to analyze the effects of once- or thrice-weekly mupirocin application on peritonitis, exit-site infection (ESI), and antibiotic resistance with mupirocin.

By 2000 mupirocin began to be applied once a week to 33 patients who previously did not use mupirocin at the exit site. By the beginning of 2002, the patients were assigned to two groups. In group I patients continued to apply mupirocin once a week. In group II patients began to apply mupirocin to the exit site three times weekly and we began to obtain cultures from the nares, inguinal area, axillae, and the exit site.

A total of 28 episodes of ESI and 41 episodes of peritonitis were seen in 33 patients prior to mupirocin treatment, while a total of 14 episodes of ESI and 34 episodes of peritonitis were observed in all groups of patients who used mupirocin. In a subgroup analysis, 13 episodes of peritonitis and 7 episodes of ESI were determined in group I, while 6 episodes of peritonitis and 1 episode of ESI were determined in group II. Staphylococcus aureus reproduction rate and mupirocin resistance were 2.11 and 0.2%, respectively. Coagulase-negative staphylococcus reproduction rate was 70.56% (MuR: 59.87% and MeR: 33.7%) and 72.6% (MuR: 64.7% and MeR: 33.3%) in groups I and II, respectively.

Mupirocin application at the exit sites reduces peritonitis and ESI to a considerable amount, and thrice-weekly application of mupirocin seems to be more efficient compared to once-weekly application.