Concomitant pneumococcal appendicitis, peritonitis, and meningitis

Abstract

A 9-year-old boy developed pneumococcal meningitis and peritonitis following appendectomy. Subsequent pathologic examination showed Gram-positive diplococci in the appendix. Cultures of the peritoneal fluid, blood, and spinal fluid showed Diplococcus pneumoniae. The experience illustrates the danger of assuming that all pneumococcus peritonitis is the primary variety and the advisability of routine Gram stain of the peritoneal fluid at operation in order to select the appropriate antibiotic.