Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis caused by Streptococcus bovis

Abstract

The first case of Streptococcus bovis peritonitis associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) in a 40-year-old Chinese woman suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus is reported. Streptococcus bovis is part of the normal flora in the human intestine and, less commonly, the female genital tract. Being a rare cause of peritonitis, the possible link between genital tract colonization by Streptococcus bovis and retrograde invasion of the peritoneal cavity is postulated to be the cause of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis peritonitis in this patient. Since invasive Streptococcus bovis infection is associated with gastrointestinal pathology (Streptococcus bovis biotype I) and chronic liver diseases (Streptococcus bovis biotype II), identifying the biotype of Streptococcus bovis could guide treatment by indicating that further investigation of these underlying diseases is required.