Standardised training for reducing peritoneal dialysis-related infection: a cluster randomised controlled study

Peritoneal dialysis is a widely used treatment for kidney failure; however, peritoneal dialysis-related infections (exit-site, tunnel infection, peritonitis) occur frequently. The effect of standardised nurse and patient training on peritoneal dialysis infections is uncertain. The aim of this study was to determine whether implementing an international guideline-based standardised training curriculum for nurse trainers and new peritoneal dialysis patients reduces the risk of peritoneal dialysis-related infections compared with existing local training practices.

Targeted Education ApproaCH to improve Peritoneal Dialysis (TEACH-PD) was a pragmatic, investigator-initiated, cluster-randomised controlled trial conducted in Australia and New Zealand. Adult patients 18 years of age or older with kidney failure who required training for incident peritoneal dialysis treatment and who were able to provide written informed consent were eligible. Clusters were randomised 1:1 to either the standardised training curriculum or usual care. Participant data and infection outcomes were routinely collected in national patient registries. The primary outcome was time to first peritoneal dialysis-related infection (exit site infection, tunnel infection, or peritonitis). Secondary outcomes were the first of each individual infection type in the primary composite outcome, catheter removal, haemodialysis transfer, all-cause death and quality of life. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT03816111.

Between 22 July 2019 and 29 September 2023, 42 clusters were randomised: 21 to the standardised training group and 21 to the usual care group. Overall, 1462 incident peritoneal dialysis patients were included; 667 were assigned to the standardised training group and 795 to the usual care group. A peritoneal dialysis-related infection occurred in 296 of 667 patients in the standardised training group and 297 of 795 patients in the usual care group (sub-hazard ratio 1.230, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.004-1.507, p = 0.0457). Secondary outcomes were similar in the two groups.

Among patients commencing peritoneal dialysis, the use of a standardised training curriculum for nurses and patients based on the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis guidelines increased peritoneal dialysis-related infection. Implementation-focused research is needed to identify which elements of training require standardisation and where individualisation is most beneficial to support safe, sustainable and patient-centred peritoneal dialysis care.

The TEACH-PD trial is funded by MRFF Clinical Trials Activity: Rare Cancers, Rare Diseases and Unmet Need Grant Opportunity; National Health & Medical Research Council BEAT-CKD Program Grant; Health Research Council of New Zealand grant; Metro South Health Research Support Scheme Research Fund-Health System and Health Economics Project Grant; Queensland Health; South Western Sydney Research Small Grant Scheme; International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis; Translational Research Institute Australia; Amgen and Baxter Healthcare (Vantive).