Penicillium peritonitis in a patient receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Abstract

Infection is a common complication in patients who receive continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Fungi causing peritonitis in these patients is less common compared with bacterial peritonitis. Fungal peritonitis accounts for less than 10% of cases in chronic CAPD, which usually follows either bacterial peritonitis or earlier exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics. Most of these cases are caused by Candida albicans or other Candida species. There are only two case reports of Penicillium species peritonitis in patients with CAPD in the literature. We report the known third case of Penicillium species-related peritonitis in a patient receiving CAPD. The patient's condition improved dramatically after catheter removal.