Mycobacterium chelonei peritonitis due to hematogenous dissemination in a continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patient.

Renal failure patients have been found to have a special susceptibility to Mycobacterium infections. In patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis, Mycobacterium chelonei peritonitis, due to penetration through the peritoneal catheter lumen, has been described. In our report, we described a case of disseminated M chelonei infection that began in a Thomas hemodialysis prosthesis and finally resulted in peritonitis of hematogenous origin. The diagnostic and therapeutic peculiarities are discussed.