Rhodococcus equi peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

J Nephrol. 2003 Sep-Oct;16(5):736-9.

Abstract

The human Rhodococcus equi (R. equi) infection is now emerging, although extrapulmonary manifestation and isolation from patients without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection remains unusual. Considerable effort is required to correctly identify and diagnose this facultative pathogen in patients with peritonitis in end-stage renal failure (ESRF) on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). In the six cases of R. equi CAPD peritonitis reported in this series, diagnoses were made, on average, after 15 days and prolonged antibiotic therapy with morbidity in two patients. A diagnosis of R. equi should be considered in patients with suspected diphtheroid or Nocardia CAPD peritonitis, even with no history of animal contact. This study is the largest series on R. equi CAPD peritonitis and highlights the impact of this disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Actinomycetales Infections / diagnosis*
  • Actinomycetales Infections / drug therapy
  • Actinomycetales Infections / etiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory / adverse effects*
  • Peritonitis / diagnosis*
  • Peritonitis / drug therapy
  • Peritonitis / etiology
  • Rhodococcus equi*