Atypical mycobacterial exit-site infection and peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis patients on prophylactic exit-site gentamicin cream.

We report 9 cases of exit-site infection and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis peritonitis associated with atypical mycobacteria. All patients had been using topical gentamicin cream as prophylaxis for exit-site infection before the onset of these infections. Gentamicin cream is postulated to be a potential risk factor for atypical mycobacterial infection because of selective pressure on other micro-organisms. The microbiology of atypical mycobacteria and the treatment for atypical mycobacterial infections are discussed.