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- Title
Early Diagnosis of Gram-Negative Peritonitis in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis Patients with the Lymulus Amebocyte Lysate Assay.
- Authors
Peer, Gari; Serban, Irina; Blum, Miriam; Cabili, Shaltiel; Iaina, Adrian
- Abstract
The treatment of peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients is empiric until the bacteriological results are available. The Lymulus amebocyte lysate assay (LAL) is a very sensitive method for the detection of endotoxin, a structural component of gram-negative bacteria. We performed the LAL assay in a prospective study in 36 consecutive episodes of peritonitis. The LAL assay was positive in all 10 episodes of gram-negative peritonitis (100% specificity). Treatment directed specifically against gram-negative or -positive infection was started based on the LAL assay result. In 26 episodes with LAL-negative test, a gram-positive bacterium was cultured in 23 episodes, in 1 there was fungal infection and 2 were sterile. In summary: the LAL assay is a rapid (1 h) and sensitive method for the differentiation of gram-positive or -negative peritonitis and enables starting an immediate and more appropriate antibiotic therapy. Copyright © 1992 S. Karger AG, Basel
- Publication
American Journal of Nephrology, 1992, Vol 12, Issue 1/2, p19
- ISSN
0250-8095
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1159/000168412