Concomitant pneumococcal appendicitis, peritonitis, and meningitis
M. Dimond and H. J. Proctor
A 9-year-old boy developed pneumococcal meningitis and peritonitis
following appendectomy. Subsequent pathologic examination showed
Gram-positive diplococci in the appendix. Cultures of the peritoneal fluid,
blood, and spinal fluid showed Diplococcus pneumoniae. The experience
illustrates the danger of assuming that all pneumococcus peritonitis is the
primary variety and the advisability of routine Gram stain of the
peritoneal fluid at operation in order to select the appropriate
antibiotic.
