Brucella peritonitis in a patient on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis with acute brucellosis

Abstract

Peritonitis is an uncommon complication of brucellosis. Brucella peritonitis in chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients has not been reported before. A male patient is presented with peritonitis caused by Brucella melitensis who was on CAPD. The source of infection was thought to be unpasteurized, unsalted cheese eaten a month before the onset of symptoms. At the beginning, antibiotic therapy with doxycyline and rifampicin led to a rapid clinical improvement, with disappearance of the organism in the peritoneal fluid. However, peritonitis relapsed after discontinuation of antimicrobial therapy. Successful management required a combination of medical therapy and removal of the Tenckhoff catheter.