Intraperitoneal antibiotic administration for prevention of postoperative peritoneal catheter-related infections

It is recommended that systemic prophylactic antibiotics be given immediately prior to peritoneal catheter insertion. This administration requires intravenous access and could be inconvenient in dynamic and unpredictable operation room schedule. Intraperitoneal antibiotics could be an alternative simple way for prevention of postoperative peritoneal catheter infections.

Medical records from 109 patients undergoing permanent PD catheter placement procedures were reviewed retrospectively. Group I patients (66 patients) received intraperitoneal cefazolin through the inserted Tenckhoff catheter in operation room. Group II (43 patients) received intravenous cefazolin 2 h prior to the surgery. The effect of prophylactic antibiotics on the occurrence of peritonitis and exit site infection in the 14 days following surgical peritoneal dialysis catheter placement was evaluated.

During the follow-up period, one patients from group II (2.3%) and none from group I developed peritonitis (P = 0.3945). One patient from each group developed exit site infection (P = 1.000).

It was found that intraperitoneal antibiotics have the similar efficacy compared with intravenous antibiotics for postoperative peritoneal catheter-related infections' prevention. It does not require intravenous access and overcome the issue of unpredictable operation room schedule.