Fatal peritonitis due to group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus in a patient receiving chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients is rarely caused by group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus species. We describe a 52-year-old man with chronic glomerulonephritis who developed a fatal peritonitis due to streptococcus group B in the absence of predisposing factors such as diabetes mellitus, malignancy, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, or liver disease. This report suggests that although beta-hemolytic streptococcus is a rare cause of peritonitis, the severity of the infection may be overwhelming and may rapidly lead to serious consequences and death.