The use of intracatheter instillation of streptokinase in the treatment of recurrent bacterial peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Recurrent bacterial peritonitis resistant to therapy with antibiotics is seen in a small percentage of patients maintained on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. In these patients, removal of the Tenckhoff catheter is necessary to achieve a cure. Sequestration of bacteria within fibrin clots located on the catheter has been postulated to contribute to this resistance to standard therapy. We, therefore, examined the efficacy of intraperitoneal streptokinase in combination with antibiotic therapy in the treatment of two patients with recurrent bacterial peritonitis. After addition of streptokinase to the therapeutic regimen, no further episodes of peritonitis were observed after 6 to 8 weeks follow-up. These data suggest that intraperitoneal streptokinase may be useful as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of recurrent bacterial peritonitis.