Description of an outbreak of acute sterile peritonitis in Iran

Detections of Chemicals and Migratory Plastics in Peritoneal Dialysis Fluids

Background

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an important modality of renal replacement therapy (RRT). Peritonitis and ultrafiltration failure are complications that have a long-term impact on PD patients. Besides touch contamination, procedural errors and clinical reasons of peritonitis, contaminants, and constituents of peritoneal dialysis fluids (PDFs) have been implicated in causing peritonitis and ultrafiltration failure. This study was aimed to test the PDFs in India for the presence of migratory plastics.

Materials and Methods

PDFs from the two manufacturers in India were tested using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) with headspace analysis (volatile compounds) and pyrolysis of plastics (polymer compounds). The storage conditions and handling were uniform.

Results

The results revealed impurities of acetate compounds and aldehyde derivatives of glucose degradation products (GDPs) with contaminants and leachable plastics. There were high levels of GDP derivative in the form of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural compounds (5-HMF). The analysis revealed the presence of plastic softeners in very high concentrations.

Conclusion

The study unmasks the presence of chemicals and GDPs that can be implicated in pathogenesis of sterile peritonitis and ultrafiltration failure. The study demonstrated the presence of leachable plastics. In conclusion, LCMS and GCMS studies can be used to test PDFs for unwanted chemicals prior to human use.

Epidemic of Chemical Peritonitis in Patients on Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis: A Report from Western India

While non-infectious etiologies like chemical irritants are rare causes of epidemics of peritonitis, this possibility should be considered when one encounters an unusual clustering of peritonitis cases. We describe here an epidemic of chemical peritonitis at our center.