A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial Comparing Cefepime Monotherapy Versus Combination of Cefazolin Plus Ceftazidime for Empirical Treatment of CAPD-associated Peritonitis

The International Society of Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD) guideline suggest to use combination of antibiotics to cover both of gram positive and gram negative bacteria. The usual regimen in Thailand is cefazolin plus ceftazidime. Despite combination therapy, monotherapy is also possible for empirical treatment of CAPD-associated peritonitis since it helps to lowering staff burden and lowering risk of contamination. Cefepime could be an ideal antibiotic for empirical treatment of CAPD-associated peritonitis as it is an extended-spectrum cephalosporin, forth generation, covering most of gram positive and gram negative bacteria. In addition, cefepime is not broken down by many of the beta-lactamases and less beta-lactamases inducer. This study aims to prove the noninferiority of cefepime monotherapy to cefazolin plus ceftazidime for empirical treatment of CAPD-associated peritonitis.

CAPD-associated peritonitis was diagnosed by at least two of the following criteria: abdominal pain or cloudy peritoneal dialysis fluid (PDF); PDF white cell count > 100/μL with > 50% polymorphonuclear(PMN); and positive gram stain or culture. The patients were randomized into two groups by block of four randomization, sealed envelope. Treatment group was treated with intraperitoneal (IP) cefepime 1 g loading following by maintenance dose 250 mg IP all exchanges. Control group was treated with cefazolin 1 g IP loading and ceftazidime 1 g IP loading following by maintenance dose of cefazolin and ceftazidime 250 mg IP all exchanges. If a patient had residual urine ≥ 100 ml/day, dose of antibiotics would be increased by 25%.

On the first day, the initial blood tests for complete blood count, electrolyte, BUN, creatinine, calcium, phosphate and magnesium were obtained. While peritoneal dialysis fluid were collected using two methods of bacterial culture, both of centrifugation of 50 ml peritoneal dialysis fluid at 3,000 g for 15 minutes and bedside 5-10 ml of peritoneal dialysis fluid inoculated into the blood culture bottles. PDF gram stain and bacterial culture were done. The patients were followed on day 3, 5, 10, 14, 21 and 28 days after the completion of antibiotic course. If clinical improved, the antibiotics would be adjusted according to the culture result and sensitivity after day 5. If clinical not improved the antibiotics would be step up and Tenckhoff catheter removal was considered (on any day of treatment). The patients were treated at least 14 days or 21 days depend on the culture result (as the recommendation of ISPD guideline 2010).