pd site infected

[7piglets]

I have pd catheter but it doesnt work..Problem is it is stil in and has been since Feb..
Last night I had almost a brown scab where it goes into me this am I noticd scab is gone and now really red and hurts. .I told dr and they said it is infected and want me to go to hosptial to get out ..I am scheduled to have removed in Aug and right now I have little ones and cant just go check myself in hosptial. The dr didnt even see it Is there anything else I can put on it to prevent it from getting severely infected .

[Meinuk]

Piglets, peritonitis is a very scary thing.  Get the catheter out.  I know that it sucks, but in the scheme of things, it is the safest route.  An exit site infection can turn into peritonitis.

[rookiegirl]

If your PD catheter is not working since February, are you on hemo?  If not what alternative treatment are you using?  I've been on CAPD since Oct 2007 and I'm very fearful of getting peritonitis or any infection related to PD.  I know it's difficult to have small kids, but please make the necessary arrangements for them so that you can also be well taken care of.  You are too important to just delay the inevitable.

Keep us posted on how things work out for you.

[KICKSTART]

Dont panic but DO get a pd nurse to check your exit site. I often get a scab that forms ,then comes away when i clean my exit site ,and ive been on pd for over 4 years. Sometimes you will find your exit site goes sore if you have been bending or twisting etc , if i have a busy day i notice mine goes tender. What you need to watch for is any sort of discharge from your exit site , still get it checked out just in case , better to be safe. I use a cream called 'bactroban' if my exit site is a bit tender , but im not sure you would get it over there?

[Ken Shelmerdine]

I have been told by my home sister that an exit site infection would only lead to peritonitis if it was neglected badly and the infection was very very aggressive. Just under the skin from the exit is a collar which the skin heals tightly round and then the tubing continues for about three inches travelling just under the skin which is healed tightly around the tubing. At the point in which it enters the abdomen there is another collar to further seal the exit site. There is little chance if and exit sight infection getting through all these layers of skin to the peritonium.

I have had and still get slight discharges from  my exit site but they always test negative however the underside between the my stomach and the tubing is always a bit reddened looking.

[IUNurse]

7 Piglets, I wasn't on the message board for awhile and my gosh, you just can't have things go well for you can you?!?  I hope you are doing better!  Please update me- did you get the catheter out?!?

[7piglets]

Thank you all for the replies..I know many wouldnt do this but I self treated myself.. I have lost pretty much all faith in drs so I took it in my own hands and the site is now fine..I still have catheter in but do have a date for removal (Aug 15th) I go in on Tues July 29th to have my tumor removed from my lung then I will worry about the catheter.. For who asked I am currently on hemo (which you will soon see another post about that
I feel great but just want to get my catheter taken out a new one put in and just do this from home..
thanks again everyone

[mariannas]

Dont panic but DO get a pd nurse to check your exit site. I often get a scab that forms ,then comes away when i clean my exit site ,and ive been on pd for over 4 years. Sometimes you will find your exit site goes sore if you have been bending or twisting etc , if i have a busy day i notice mine goes tender. What you need to watch for is any sort of discharge from your exit site , still get it checked out just in case , better to be safe. I use a cream called 'bactroban' if my exit site is a bit tender , but im not sure you would get it over there?

I use a similar product (I'm assuming).  It's called Gentamicin Sulfate Cream and is available by prescription only.  It's cheap though so no big deal.  I use it every day when I clean my exit site and so far, so good!

[Ken Shelmerdine]

I have had a fungal infection round my exit site for about four weeks now, it's not getting any worse but whenever I change my dressing there's a small discharge of watery blood on my dressing. When I squeeze round the siite thereis no discharge. Its as if the dessing draws it out. It has been diagnosed as a yeast infection which is the same fungal bacteria as thrush. I had another swab taken this week and I'm still waiting for the results.

[rookiegirl]

I have had a fungal infection round my exit site for about four weeks now, it's not getting any worse but whenever I change my dressing there's a small discharge of watery blood on my dressing. When I squeeze round the siite thereis no discharge. Its as if the dessing draws it out. It has been diagnosed as a yeast infection which is the same fungal bacteria as thrush. I had another swab taken this week and I'm still waiting for the results.

Are you applying antibiotics/ointment of any sort around the exit site?  I can't believe it's been 4 weeks and still you have this issue.  Do they know what cause it? and what can be done to avoid the problem?

[Ken Shelmerdine]

I have had a fungal infection round my exit site for about four weeks now, it's not getting any worse but whenever I change my dressing there's a small discharge of watery blood on my dressing. When I squeeze round the siite thereis no discharge. Its as if the dessing draws it out. It has been diagnosed as a yeast infection which is the same fungal bacteria as thrush. I had another swab taken this week and I'm still waiting for the results.

Are you applying antibiotics/ointment of any sort around the exit site?  I can't believe it's been 4 weeks and still you have this issue.  Do they know what cause it? and what can be done to avoid the problem?

Hi Rookie Girl. I have been prescribed some antifungal cream which I've used with each change of dressing. They don't know what caused it but I have my own ideas. You see to be honest my exit site has never seemed to have fully healed. There's always been redness particularly on the underside of the catheter. I think it may be because it's always covered.

All my life if ever I've use any kind of dressing on any wound whether it be a simlple band aid or a bandage, the wound just seems to stay permanently moist and start festering. on the other hand if I don't dress a wound it scabbs over and heals up. I've mentioned this to my home sister but she says I should still keep it covered. 

[rookiegirl]

Ken - I'm like you, I keep my exit site covered 24/7 with small 2x2 gauze and apply gentamicin cream.  I've been doing this since Oct 2007 and so far my site looks good.  I hope things works out for you and that your exit site will heal soon.

Take care,
RG

[george40]

One thing I make sure of when cleaning the exit site, is to make sure it is totally dry before covering it up with the gause. Making sure its dry is supposed to help prevent infection.