The International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD) recommended how to take cultures of peritoneal fluid for the diagnosis of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis.
Goal: to keep the number of false-negative cultures to a minimum
Specimen: large volume of peritoneal fluid in a sterile container
Both of the following are recommended:
(1) Culture the sediment from 50 mL. This is prepared by centrifuging the fluid at 3,000 g for 15 minutes and resuspending the sediment in 3-5 mL of sterile saline (without antibiotics).
(2) Immediately place 5-10 mL into 2 blood culture bottles at the bedside. These should be incubated at 37°C if the specimen cannot be delivered promptly to the laboratory.
Specimens should be delivered as quickly as possible to the microbiology laboratory.
Isolates should have antibiotic susceptibilities performed.
Routine bacterial cultures will isolate most pathogens causing peritonitis. However, sometimes additional cultures may need to be performed for fungi, mycobacteria, slow-growing or fastidious organisms.
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