EFFECT OF GLUCOSE IN DIALYSIS FLUID ON ANTIBACTERIAL DEFENSE IN THE PERITONEAL-CAVITY

To study the effect of glucose concentration and dwell time of dialysi s fluid on peritoneal antibacterial defence, an experimental infection with Staphylococcus aureus was induced in rats. For this purpose rats were inoculated intraperitoneally with Staphylococcus aureus at diffe rent intervals after the administration of various dialysis fluids. Tw enty-four hours later the numbers of bacteria and cells in the periton eal cavity were determined. The number of bacteria was correlated posi tively with the glucose concentration. Furthermore, an inverse correla tion between dwell time and the number of bacteria was observed. Neith er finding could be attributed to a glucose-dependent growth of the ba cteria or disruption of the killing capacity of peritoneal cells in vi tro. A glucose-dependent increase in the volume of the peritoneal flui d could partially explain the differences found in vivo. It is conclud ed that the glucose in dialysis fluid impairs antibacterial defence in the peritoneal cavity and that longer dwell times enhance this defenc e.