Xanthomonas maltophilia infection has only been occasionally reported in pa
tients receiving chronic peritoneal dialysis. We describe four cases of Xan
thomonas maltophilia infection associated with chronic peritoneal dialysis.
Two patients presented with peritonitis and two with exit site infection.
All patients were diabetics, who immediately prior to the study had not rec
eived antibiotic therapy. Failure to respond to multiple antibiotic therapy
resulted in catheter removal in both patients with peritonitis. In those p
atients with only exit site infections, dialysis could be continued followi
ng antibiotic therapy and catheter replacement in one. Catheter loss in our
patients was directly attributed to peritonitis with Xanthomonas maltophil
ia infection.