Peritonitis due to Gardnerella vaginalis in a male patient undergoing peritoneal dialysis: A case report

We report the first documented case of Gardnerella vaginalis peritonitis in a 55-year-old man undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) for renal failure of unknown etiology. He was started on CAPD three months after catheter insertion and simultaneous umbilical hernia repair with mesh placement. His follow-up was notable for poor compliance and geographical isolation. He presented to the emergency department for abdominal pain associated with an abscess at the catheter exit site. Microbiological culture identified G. vaginalis, an organism typically found in the female vaginal flora. The outcome was favorable with metronidazole treatment, to which this organism is generally susceptible. This case highlights the potential role of atypical pathogens in peritoneal dialysis-related infections, and in particular the pathogenicity of G. vaginalis through biofilm formation in patients carrying implanted medical devices, including in men.