Peritoneal dialysis-related infections recommendations 2005 - an important tool for quality improvement

Adequate performance measurement should be based on evidence-based guidelines. The recently published update of the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis recommendations for peritoneal dialysis-related infections provides an opportunity to define a limited set of quality indicators as suitable for performance measurement and useful as targets for the improvement of dialysis care. Suitable quality indicators seem the incidence of peritonitis (target less than one episode every 18 months) and the percentage of culture-negative episodes (< 20%). The lack of uniformity in definitions and the lack of studies providing evidence for firm recommendations are major limitations for further improvements in prevention, diagnosis and outcome of peritoneal dialysis-related infectious complications.