BACKGROUND: Peritonitis remains a significant problem in peritoneal dialysis (PD). It is the leading cause of technique failure, and contributes to mortality. The incidence is highest during the first year of treatment. Non-compliance with the PD protocol is shown to be an important risk factor for peritonitis. Reinforcement of knowledge and ability to perform PD therefore appears to be a possible way to reduce the incidence of peritonitis. This will be studied in The PEritonitis Prevention Study (PEPS). METHODS: The objective of this randomized, multi-centre investigation, which will include 750 new PD patients who can perform (PD) without assistance, is to evaluate if regular retraining can reduce the incidence of peritonitis, the technique-failure rate, and the hospitalisation days due to peritonitis compared with regular follow-up regimen. Patients in the intervention group will be tested by a PD-technique test and a questionnaire at regular intervals after PD-start and after every peritonitis episode with focus on infection prophylaxis. If needed, they will be retrained. The control group will be treated according to the routine of the center. The study is ongoing in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom (UK). The study will go on for 6 years.
BACKGROUND See above. AIMS The primary aim of this trial is to study if regular follow-up of PD patients with testing of their theoretical and practical knowledge (hereafter called "new type of follow-up") can reduce the time to first peritonitis episode. Secondary aims were to study if the new type of follow-up could reduce the incidence of peritonitis, the technique failure rate related to peritonitis, and the time of hospitalization related to peritonitis compared to a routine regimen. For specific aims, see "Outcome measures" below. A further aim was to study risk factors for peritonitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study is a randomized, multi-centre investigation intending to enclose 750 new PD patients in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Inclusion was finished on December 31, 2014. The study will go on until the last included patient has taken part of the study for one year. The study will thus be terminated on December 31, 2015. The study includes a retraining group and a control group. The intervention in the retraining group consists of regular testing of theoretical and practical knowledge regarding PD with focus on infection prophylaxis including retraining if needed until the test goals are reached. The control group will be treated according to the routines of the center. Peritonitis is defined according to International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (SPD) guidelines (Peritoneal Dialysis International 2005;25:107-131) The baseline PD training will be the same at all participating centres and follow international recommendations. In addition, fluorescent alcohol and a UV lamp will be used to control the result of hand disinfection in all patients once during the initial PD training. Thereafter this method will only be used in the retraining group.. In the retraining group, the knowledge from the basal training will be tested at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after PD start, every sixth month thereafter, and after every episode of peritonitis. Such testing will also be performed at restart of PD and includes two types of tests: 1. The patient will fill in a questionnaire with theoretical and practical questions with focus on infection and infection prophylaxis during PD treatment. Goal: At least 80% of the questions should be correct. If the goal is not reached, further training will be given until the goal is reached. 2. The patient will perform a practical test including hand disinfection, PD exchange technique, and exit-site care. Hand disinfection skills will be controlled with the help of fluorescent alcohol and a UV lamp. Goal: All steps of the practical test should be correctly performed. If not, further training will be given until the goal is reached.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
713
Testing of the patients´ knowledge and retraining will be given if needed
Department of Nephrology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital
Gothenburg, Sweden
Time to the First Dialysis-associated Peritonitis Episode in the Retraining Group and the Control Group
Time (days) after the date of randomization to the date of the first peritonitis episode was calculated for each participant. The cumulative time without peritonitis using the Cox regression model from which unadjusted hazard ratios were calculated. Actuarial survival curves showing proportions of peritonitis-free participants over time in the two groups were estimated by means of the Kaplan-Meier method. Log rank follow-up was used to compare the survival curves. Patients who stopped PD treatment due to causes other than peritonitis were managed according to the intention-to-treat principle.
Time frame: Participants were followed from 1 month after PD start (time of randomization) up to a maximum of 36 months after start of peritoneal dialysis, i.e. to maximally 35 months after randomization. Time to first peritonitis was calculated for each participant.
Incidence of a First Dialysis-associated Peritonitis Episode in the Control and the Retraining Group
The incidence of a first peritonitis episode is expressed as the mean rate of a first peritonitis per patient year (event rate) with 95% confidence interval.
Time frame: The participants were followed from 1 month after PD start (time of randomization) up to a maximum of 36 months after start of peritoneal dialysis, i.e. to maximally 35 months after randomization. The time in study was calculated for each participant
Incidence of All Peritonitis Episodes in the Control Group and the Retraining Group
The incidence of peritonitis episodes is expressed as the mean rate of peritonitis per patient year (event rate) with 95% confidence interval.
Time frame: The participants were followed from 1 month after PD start (time of randomization) up to 36 months after start of peritoneal dialysis, The time (days) of participation in the study was calculated for each participant.
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