Improved training techniques and UltraBag system resulted in lowered peritonitis rate in an inner-city population

Fifteen continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients from our dialysis unit were studied while using two different types of exchange systems: a snap-disconnect Y-set system and the Baxter UltraBag system. The incidence of peritonitis in the snap-disconnect Y-system was found to be 32 cases in 187 months, or a rate of 1 case of peritonitis every 5.8 months. When these patients switched to the Baxter UltraBag system, the incidence of peritonitis dropped to 4 cases in 175 months, or 1 case every 43.8 months, a highly significant difference. We conclude, therefore, that the UltraBag system is highly effective in reducing the incidence of peritonitis in CAPD patients.