Peritonitis Due to Rothia dentocariosa in Iran: A Case Report

Abstract

Rothia dentocariosa (R. dentocariosa) is a gram-positive bacterium, which is a microorganism that normally resides in the mouth and respiratory tract. R. dentocariosa is known to involve in dental plaques and periodontal diseases. However, it is considered an organism with low pathogenicity and is associated with opportunistic infections. Originally thought not to be pathogenic in humans, R. dentocariosa was first described to cause infections in a 19-year-old female with periappendiceal abscess in 1975. The most prevalent human infections caused by R. dentocariosa include infective endocarditis, bacteremia, endophthalmitis, corneal ulcer, septic arthritis, pneumonia, and peritonitis associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Three main factors have been reported to increase the risk of the cardiac and extra-cardiac infections caused by R. dentocariosa, including immunocompromised conditions, pre-existing cardiac disorders, and poor oral hygiene. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) may induce peritonitis presumably due to hematogenous spread from gingival or periodontal sources. This case study aimed to describe a former PD patient presenting with peritonitis. Oral hygiene is a basic principle in PD patients for the prevention of peritonitis. It is speculated that our patient might have had an occult oral source of R. dentocariosa.