A patient has returned to the medical surgical unit after receiving peritoneal dialysis. Which of the following nursing interventions should the nurse implement to prevent peritonitis?

A. Instruct the patient to keep the catheter clean: Peritonitis is the most common complication of peritoneal dialysis and is usually caused by contamination at the catheter site. Maintaining strict aseptic technique during catheter care and handling dialysis equipment minimizes the risk of bacterial entry into the peritoneal cavity, making this intervention essential for prevention. B. Position patient supine: While supine positioning may aid in comfort or initial dialysis fluid instillation, it does not prevent infection. Positioning alone has no impact on the risk of peritonitis. C. Encourage patient to increase fluid intake: Adequate hydration supports overall renal function and helps maintain intravascular volume, but it does not directly reduce the risk of peritoneal infection. Fluid intake is supportive rather than preventive for peritonitis. D. Measure abdominal girth: Monitoring abdominal girth helps detect fluid retention, bloating, or early complications such as dialysate leakage, but it does not prevent infection. This intervention is observational rather than prophylactic.