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Survival to the first peritonitis episode was not different among the four classification groups (Figure 6); however, patients with the first positive culture from the periexit smear at 5 weeks or later were the least likely to develop the first peritonitis episode (Figure 7). The first positive culture from washout was not significantly related to survival to the first peritonitis episode, although there was a trend for later peritonitis in the groups with the first positive culture at 3 weeks or later (Figure 8).

FIGURES 6,7,8 NOT AVAILABLE

Compared to the fast-healing exit group, the early infection group tended to have higher peritonitis and recurrent peritonitis rates (Table 7). Also, peritonitis and recurrent peritonitis rates tended to be lower in those patients whose exits were colonized later as determined by periexit smears (Table 8) and sinus washouts (Table 9).

TABLES 7, 8, 9 NOT AVAILABLE

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