title: Kocuria species peritonitis: although rare, we have to care.
abstract: Kocuria species are found in the environment and on human skin. These micro-organisms are generally considered to be nonpathogenic saprophytes, rarely causing infection. However, the peritoneum has been reported to be a site of Kocuria infection. We reviewed all cases of peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients caused by Kocuria species that were reported in the worldwide literature. In total, 12 episodes of Kocuria species peritonitis have been reported in 9 PD patients. The median age of the patients was 62 years (range: 8 - 78 years). In the reported episodes, 4 different Kocuria species were isolated, with K. varians being the predominant species (41.7%). The most common initial symptom was abdominal pain (83.3%), followed by turbid effluent (75%) and fever (33.3%). Intraperitoneal first-generation cephalosporins and glycopeptides were the most-used antibiotics, with first-generation cephalosporins being more often preferred as first-line therapy. The median duration of treatment was 14 days, and in 2 episodes, the Tenckhoff catheter was removed. Although Kocuria peritonitis in PD patients is rare, it should be promptly treated because relapses can occur, especially with K. varians episodes.
authors.affiliation: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 1st Department of Pediatrics, Hippokratio Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dotis
authors.affiliation: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 1st Department of Pediatrics, Hippokratio Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikoleta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Printza
authors.affiliation: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 1st Department of Pediatrics, Hippokratio Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stabouli
authors.affiliation: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 1st Department of Pediatrics, Hippokratio Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Fotios
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Papachristou
mesh_terms: D000193:Actinomycetales Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008835:Micrococcaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D035583:Rare Diseases; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins
keywords: Kocuria; peritonitis; review