Capnocytophaga canimorsus peritonitis in a pediatric peritoneal dialysis patient

Capnocytophaga canimorsus, a bacterium rarely encountered by clinicians, wa s responsible for the development of peritonitis in an 18-year-old white ma le on automated peritoneal dialysis following the puncture of his dialysis tubing by a domestic cat. Although more a domestic cat. Although more than 100 cases of septicemia caused by C. canimorsus have been reported, this is the first report of the organism causing peritonitis in a patient receivin g peritoneal dialysis. Of interest, the patient had a prior episode of peri tonitis secondary to Pasteurella multocida, also following transmission fro m the same cat.