Fungal peritonitis (FP) is a serious complication of peritoneal dialysis, both in terms of morbidity and mortality. Available data on the effectiveness of fluconazole in eradicating FP without catheter removal are still controversial. We reviewed 20 FP cases that occurred among 325 patients who underwent peritoneal dialysis in our center between January 1984 and January 1992, in order to establish whether a profile of patients at risk of developing FP could be identified and to evaluate the effectiveness of fluconazole in treating FP (7 cases). Age, sex, a particular cause of end-stage renal disease, and the presence of diabetes did not correlate significantly with the development of FP. The risk of FP increased in patients on immunosuppressive treatment. Sixteen of our 20 patients had bacterial peritonitis during the month before they developed FP. Nineteen were treated with antibiotics. Neither the type of bacterial organism isolated during the bacterial peritonitis preceding FP nor modality and duration of antibiotic treatment correlated significantly with the development of FP. Patients who subsequently developed FP were more frequently treated with antibiotics while in hospital (p < 0.001). Candida species accounted for 15 of our 20 FP cases (75%), with Candida albicans being by far the most common isolate. Treatment strategies varied among the 20 patients. The combination of intravenous or intraperitoneal administration of 5-fluorocytosine and oral administration of fluconazole was used in 7 cases: only 1 patient was cured without catheter removal, 1 patient died within the first 4 days of treatment, removal of peritoneal catheter was necessary in the other 5 patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)