Introduction: Peritoneal dialysis has been an established treatment method for end-stage kidney disease for many years. The dialysis is performed at home by the patient, with the assistance of family members or community nursing services when needed. Access to the peritoneal cavity is achieved through a catheter, which may become a source of complications, most commonly infections. Preventing infections requires that the patient or caregiver receives thorough training and becomes fully competent in performing dialysis procedures, catheter care, and the timely recognition of signs of complications. Purpose: The purpose of the graduation thesis is to provide a theoretical overview of potential complications associated with peritoneal dialysis, the most common infectious pathogens, and the possible causes of infection. An additional aim is to examine the relationship between the fundamental activities of daily living, specifically learning and acquiring knowledge, as well as personal hygiene and grooming, and the prevention of infections. Methods: A descriptive research method was used, based on a systematic review of professional and scientific literature published in Slovenian and English. Literature from the fields of nephrology, dialysis, transplantation, and patient education has been used. The following inclusion criteria were applied: publications published between January 2008 and December 2022, selected older books and publications containing relevant information, full-text availability, and studies conducted in comparable cultural and social environment. Results: With the review of literature, we examined the incidence and the most common causative pathogens of infections in selected Slovenian peritoneal dialysis centres. We compared the findings with data from several European countries and Australia. Discussion and Conclusion: Patient education is essential for ensuring the safe performance of home peritoneal dialysis and for preventing complications. Particular emphasis is placed on hand hygiene, whole-body hygiene, proper dialysis solution exchange techniques, and appropriate catheter care. Training in dialysis procedures and catheter care should be tailored to the patient's prior knowledge and ability to perform home treatment independently and should not be limited by time. Effective collaboration with patients and their family members requires nurses to have specialised knowledge of peritoneal dialysis, experience in patient education, and a high level of empathy. Established training protocols, as well as protocols for the management of peritonitis and for monitoring catheter exit-site infections, help us achieve good outcomes at the international level.
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