Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, Vol 3, 1092-1097, Copyright © 1992 by American Society of Nephrology

REVIEWS

Unusual causes of peritonitis in patients undergoing continuous peritoneal dialysis with emphasis on Listeria monocytogenes

NM Lunde, JM Messana and RD Swartz
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor 48109-0364.

Peritonitis remains a significant cause of morbidity in ESRD patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Staphylococcus species, Streptococcus species, and less commonly, gram- negative rods comprise the majority of isolated organisms. Other organisms, including unusual bacteria, fungi, and mycobacteria, comprise 5% or less of cases. Many of the uncommon causes of CAPD peritonitis have been reviewed, with special emphasis on antimicrobial therapy and whether catheter removal was required. The presumed third case of CAPD-associated peritonitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes is also described. In contrast to two other reported cases, our patient was not overtly immunosuppressed. L. monocytogenes infection should therefore be considered in CAPD patients with gram-positive rod peritonitis, even if immunocompetence is presumed.

Copyright © 2008 by the American Society of Nephrology. Online ISSN: 1533-3450 Print ISSN: 1046-6673