Peritonitis due to Mycobacterium fortuitum Infection Following Gastric Cancer Surgery

Abstract

Mycobacterium fortuitum is a well-documented cause of nosocomial infection. However, no studies have reported peritonitis with M. fortuitum as a postoperative complication. We describe a case of peritonitis with M. fortuitum biovariant peregrinuni following gastric cancer surgery. Gram-positive bacterial infection coexisted. Although the source of the infection was unclear, the patient was successfully treated with drainage tube exchange and combination therapy consisting of sparfloxacin, clarithromycin, and imipenem/cilastatin sodium. Thus for postoperative infectious pathogens, not only bacteria but also nontuberculous mycobacteria should be considered.
(Internal Medicine 38: 833-836, 1999)