Pasteurella multocida peritonitis in an HIV-positive patient on continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis

Pasteurella multocida has been reported only once previously as a cause of peritonitis in a patient undergoing chronic peritoneal dialysis. The present report describes findings associated with a case of P. multocida peritonitis in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patient in which renal replacement therapy consisted of continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis. To our knowledge this is the first report of this unique infection in an HIV-positive end-stage renal disease patient. In addition, the recent literature on this unusual organism is reviewed in detail. These findings emphasize the potential for increased susceptibility to zoonoses in immunocompromised patients, particularly with indwelling intraperitoneal catheters which may serve as a portal of entry for unusual organisms.