Relapsing peritonitis in a patient undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis due to Corynebacterium aquaticum.

Corynebacterium aquaticum was the cause of peritonitis in a 33-year-old diabetic woman on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). This case represents the first reported instance of CAPD peritonitis due to this organism. Moreover, the organism was recovered from fibrin clots removed from dialysate bags when the patient was on antibiotic therapy. Routine cultural methods failed to reveal the organism at that time. The organism is described and key points differentiating it from similar organisms are emphasised. The world literature on C. aquaticum infections is reviewed.