FAILURE TO CURE MYCOBACTERIUM-GORDONAE PERITONITIS ASSOCIATED WITH CONTINUOUS AMBULATORY PERITONEAL-DIALYSIS

Nontuberculous mycobacteria are increasingly recognized as important p athogens in peritonitis associated with continuous ambulatory peritone al dialysis (CAPD). Mycobacterium gordonae rarely causes human infecti on and is the least likely mycobacterium to produce clinical infection in CAPD patients. We describe a patient with persistent M. gordonae p eritonitis acquired while undergoing CAPD. During 18 months of treatme nt, clinical improvement occurred but a microbiological cure could not be achieved. Principles of therapy for mycobacterial peritonitis deve loping during CAPD are reviewed, and potential explanations for our pa tient's failure to respond to therapy are discussed.