Antifungal prophylaxis for secondary fungal peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Our objective was to evaluate antifungal prophylaxis for secondary fungal peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis patients. The study was designed to investigate antifungal prophylaxis for fungal peritonitis and to compare the incidence of fungal peritonitis without (January, 1991-July, 1993) and with (August, 1993-December, 1995) antifungal prophylaxis. In a tertiary-referral university hospital, 122 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients (77 male, 45 female) during period A (1/91-7/93) were observed for 1832 patient-months with no antifungal prophylaxis. One hundred and twelve ESRD patients (71 male, 41 female) during period B (8/93-12/95) were observed over 1705 patient-months with antifungal prophylaxis with fluconazole. Fluconazole 200 mg was given orally (po) as first dose at the onset of antibiotic therapy, then 100 mg po every other day, and was continued for one week after the antibiotic therapy. Forty-nine patients (28 male, 21 female; mean age 48.8 years) developed 105 episodes of peritonitis during period A. Forty-eight patients (36 male, 12 female; mean age 53.8 years) developed 95 episodes of peritonitis during period B. Fifteen episodes of fungal peritonitis occurred over 1832 patient-months during period A. while four episodes of fungal peritonitis were observed over 1705 patient-months during period B. Twelve episodes of secondary fungal peritonitis occurred during period A, while only two episodes occurred during period B. This incidence of secondary fungal peritonitis was significantly reduced with antifungal prophylaxis (p < 0.02). No side effect of fluconazole was observed. In conclusion, secondary fungal peritonitis was significantly decreased following fluconazole antifungal prophylaxis at our center.