A case of peritonitis caused by Rhizopus microsporus

Abstract

We report a case of a 62-year-old female patient who developed peritonitis after receiving a renal transplant. Candida glabrata was detected and treated with voriconazole. As the patient did not improve under therapy, laparotomy was performed. Mould-like plaques were found on the peritoneum. Using culture as well as pan-fungal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by DNA microarray hybridisation of the amplicon, the causative agent was identified as Rhizopus microsporus. Despite aggressive surgical treatment, intravenous therapy with amphotericin B and topical administration of Lavasept (polyhexamethylenbiguanide), the patient died.