Vancomycin absorption from the peritoneal cavity during dialysis-related peritonitis.

The uptake of vancomycin from the peritoneal cavity during acute episodes of peritonitis was compared to noninfected patients in 14 patients, 7 of whom had dialysis-related peritonitis. Treatment consisted of 8 hourly dialysate exchanges, followed by 4-h dwells containing 37.5 mg/L of vancomycin. On day 4, serum vancomycin concentrations were 13.4 +/- 4.8 mg/L in the controls and 15.5 +/- 6.8 mg/L in the group with peritonitis. After 180 min in the peritoneal cavity, 61% +/- 13% of the infused vancomycin remained in controls and 30% +/- 15% in patients with peritonitis (p less than 0.05). Uptake of vancomycin from the peritoneal cavity is enhanced during episodes of peritonitis.