Ewingella americana Peritonitis in a Patient on Peritoneal Dialysis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Bibliographic Details
Title: Ewingella americana Peritonitis in a Patient on Peritoneal Dialysis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Shriya Khurana, Christina Chemmachel, Ramesh Saxena
Source: Case Reports in Nephrology and Dialysis, Vol 10, Iss 3, Pp 147-153 (2020)
Publisher Information: Karger Publishers, 2020.
Publication Year: 2020
Collection: LCC:Diseases of the genitourinary system. Urology
Subject Terms: ewingella americana, peritonitis, peritoneal dialysis, Diseases of the genitourinary system. Urology, RC870-923
More Details: Most episodes of peritoneal dialysis (PD)-associated peritonitis are caused by skin-dwelling gram-positive bacteria and gram-negative bacteria colonizing gut and urinary tract. Occasionally, however, uncommon bacteria can cause peritonitis in PD patients. We describe a case of Ewingella americana peritonitis, the first such case reported from the United States. A 68-year-old woman with end-stage kidney disease due to hypertension was initiated on PD 2 years prior to the present event. She presented with abdominal pain associated with nausea and vomiting. She was afebrile and hemodynamically stable. Abdomen was diffusely tender with guarding and rebound. No obvious root cause was apparent. Initial PD fluid white count was 502/mm3 with 87% neutrophils. Gram stain was negative. Culture grew gram-negative rods, which were later identified as Ewingella americana, resistant to ampicillin and cefazolin but sensitive to gentamicin, ceftazidime, and cefepime. After empiric intraperitoneal vancomycin and gentamicin, she was continued on intraperitoneal gentamicin for a total period of 21 days. She responded to the treatment rapidly with complete recovery. PD fluid on day four showed 40 nucleated cells with 12% neutrophils. Patient remained on PD without consequences. Ewingella americana is a gram-negative facultative anaerobic bacillus that can survive in water, including domestic water. Inadequate hand hygiene is a potential root cause of infection. Although rare, Ewingella peritonitis can be observed in PD patients and is treatable. Clinicians should be aware of Ewingella as a potential cause of PD peritonitis.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2296-9705
Relation: https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/510147; https://doaj.org/toc/2296-9705
DOI: 10.1159/000510147
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/348ab161a42443bdb86c15ea8d437150
Accession Number: edsdoj.348ab161a42443bdb86c15ea8d437150
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:22969705
DOI:10.1159/000510147
Published in:Case Reports in Nephrology and Dialysis
Language:English