Research Article: Clinical Characteristics of Enterococcus-Associated Peritonitis in Patients with Peritoneal Dialysis
Abstract:
Peritonitis is a critical complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD), and also the leading cause of treatment failure in PD patients. PDOPPS study suggests that Gram-positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus and Streptococcus, are the leading cause of peritonitis, whilst Enterococcus-associated peritonitis (EAP) is relatively rare. Enterococcus is a symbiotic bacterium in human intestine and also has pathogenic potential. It is a natural colonizing bacterium in the gastrointestinal tract of animals and human beings. The genomic plasticity of Enterococcus enables it to adapt to harsh environments and increases the ability of some strains to colonize in the gastrointestinal tract and/or spread beyond the intestine. EAP in PD patients has a poor prognosis and high risks of intubation, hemodialysis, and even death., In the present retrospective study, patients with EAP were investigated to elucidate the clinical and pathogenic characteristics of EAP, which will be helpful for the accurate diagnosis and treatment of EAP in the future.
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