title: Aeromonas peritonitis.
abstract: Five new cases of peritonitis caused by Aeromonas species are reported, and 29 others described in the literature are reviewed. Males predominated (71%), and the mean age was 56.9 years. Acquisition was nosocomial in 20% of the cases. All patients except one (3%) had significant underlying diseases; 73% had chronic hepatic disease, 15% had chronic renal failure (treated with chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis [CAPD]), and 9% had an intestinal perforation. Symptoms were similar to those of peritonitis caused by other pathogens, with the exception of diarrhea, which occurred in 25% of cases. Blood cultures were positive in 74% of the cases. The species isolated were Aeromonas hydrophila (27), Aeromonas sobria (5), and Aeromonas caviae (2). The overall case-fatality rate was 57%. Three strains were resistant to cotrimoxazole. Aeromonas species should be taken into account as a cause of peritonitis in patients with cirrhosis or who are undergoing CAPD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital General Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fernández-Baca
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Peláez
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Créixems
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bouza
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016980:Aeromonas hydrophila / Q000187:drug effects; D000368:Aged; D002423:Cause of Death; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000401:mortality