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Peritonitis involving Capnocytophaga ochracea
Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease
|July 1, 1985
Summary
This study reports the first case of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis caused by Capnocytophaga ochracea in an alcoholic patient with cirrhosis. This finding expands the known spectrum of infections associated with this oral bacterium.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Hepatology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a serious complication in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis and ascites.
- Capnocytophaga ochracea is an oral bacterium typically associated with periodontal disease, septicemia, and arthritis.
Observation:
- A 65-year-old male with a history of alcoholism and extensive cirrhosis presented with symptoms suggestive of SBP.
- Ascitic fluid analysis revealed the presence of Capnocytophaga ochracea as the causative pathogen.
Findings:
- This case represents the first documented instance of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis attributed to Capnocytophaga species.
- The patient's clinical presentation and microbiological findings confirm an SBP infection by this organism.
Implications:
- This report highlights the potential for Capnocytophaga ochracea to cause severe intra-abdominal infections in immunocompromised individuals, particularly those with cirrhosis.
- Clinicians should consider Capnocytophaga species in the differential diagnosis of SBP, especially in patients with risk factors like alcoholism and liver disease.
- Further research is warranted to understand the pathogenesis and epidemiology of Capnocytophaga-associated SBP.