title: Persistent spontaneous fungal peritonitis secondary to Candida albicans in a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis and review of the literature.
abstract: Candida albicans is a common human pathogen. Occasionally, it can cause peritonitis in immunocompromised and postsurgical patients. We report a case of a male patient who presented with abdominal pain and distention. He had a history of end-stage liver disease secondary to alcoholism. His peritoneal fluid culture revealed C albicans, and (1-3)-β-d glucan (BDG) level was elevated. His hospital course was complicated by sepsis and renal failure. He was treated with antifungals for spontaneous fungal peritonitis. Fungal peritonitis should be suspected in patients with chronic liver disease particularly with elevated BDG levels.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: Aneela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Majeed
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: Waqas
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ullah
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: Umar
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Zahid
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: Mayar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al Mohajer
mesh_terms: D002176:Candida albicans; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D011509:Proteoglycans; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D011509:Proteoglycans; D047071:beta-Glucans; C010770:polysaccharide-K