Peritonitis due to Neisseria mucosa in an adolescent receiving peritoneal dialysis

Infection. 2005 Oct;33(5-6):390-2. doi: 10.1007/s15010-005-5074-4.

Abstract

Neisseria mucosa is part of the normal nasopharyngeal flora and rarely pathogenic in humans. Reports of serious infections associated with this pathogen are very unusual. A 17-year-old boy with end-stage renal disease due to IgA nephropathy presented with acute, spontaneous, symptomatic peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis without reported break in sterility or PD catheter exit site infection. beta-lactamase-negative N. mucosa was isolated from the dialysate effluent. Intraperitoneal antibiotic treatment with cephalothin/gentamicin for 5 days and subsequent ceftriaxone led to complete resolution of the infection. This case demonstrates that "non-pathogenic" Neisseria species can cause clinically severe peritonitis with high intraperitoneal neutrophil counts, elevated C-reactive protein levels in the peritoneal effluent (in the presented case, 27,600/mul and 3.6 mg/l, respectively) and impaired peritoneal membrane transport function. To our knowledge, this is the first case of N. mucosa peritonitis complicating chronic peritoneal dialysis in an adolescent patient.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Ceftriaxone / administration & dosage
  • Ceftriaxone / pharmacology
  • Cephalothin / administration & dosage
  • Cephalothin / pharmacology
  • Gentamicins / administration & dosage
  • Gentamicins / pharmacology
  • Glomerulonephritis, IGA / complications*
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intraperitoneal
  • Male
  • Neisseria mucosa / isolation & purification*
  • Neisseriaceae Infections / microbiology*
  • Peritoneal Dialysis / adverse effects*
  • Peritonitis / drug therapy
  • Peritonitis / microbiology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Gentamicins
  • Ceftriaxone
  • Cephalothin