Uncommon causes of peritonitis in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis

Abstract

In 5 patients, peritonitis caused by uncommon agents was acquired during continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Three patients had yeast (2 Candida albicans, 1 C. parapsilosis), 1 Aspergillus fumigatus and 1 Nocardia asteroides infections. A review of the literature indicates that yeasts are the most common cause of peritoneal dialysis-associated fungal peritonitis; only one other possible case of Aspergillus sp. and no Nocardia infections were apparently proved. Observations are recorded in reference to diagnosis and suggested methods of treatment.