ABSTRACT
Eggerthella lenta (E. lenta) has been reported to cause bacteremia in patients with gastrointestinal tract disorders or malignancies and in immunocompromised patients. Cases of E. lenta have been increasing with the recent development of testing equipment. The mortality rate due to E. lenta bacteremia is high. The authors report a case of E. lenta bacteremia in an immunocompetent patient.
Subject(s)
Humans , Appendectomy , Bacteremia , Gastrointestinal Tract , Immunocompromised Host , MortalityABSTRACT
Abstract Eggerthella lenta is a gram-positive anaerobic bacillus that has been associated with life-threatening infections. Bacteremia is always clinically significant and is mostly but not always associated with gastrointestinal disease. We present a unique case of abrupt deterioration and rapid development of septic shock secondary to periurethral abscess caused by E. lenta infection. This case highlights the atypical clinical presentation, risk factors, uncommon source of infection, challenges in therapy, and outcome of this infrequent infection. There is still a gap in the understanding of E. lenta pathogenicity, and more literature is needed to establish clear management recommendations.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Urethral Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Bacteremia/microbiology , Actinobacteria/isolation & purification , Abscess/diagnostic imaging , Urethral Diseases/drug therapy , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Risk Factors , Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/diagnosis , Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/microbiology , Actinobacteria/classification , Pelvic Infection/diagnosis , Pelvic Infection/microbiology , Abscess/microbiology , Abscess/drug therapy , Middle Aged , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Eggerthella lenta is an anaerobic, non-spore-forming, non-motile, gram-positive bacillus that can be isolated from human feces and a few other clinical specimens. Bacteremia caused by the organism is rare but, when present, is always of clinical significance. E. lenta is an emerging pathogen that has been under-recognized because of difficulties with its laboratory identification. Few reports on E. lenta infections and the optimal treatment thereof are available. We describe a case of bacteremia caused by E. lenta in an elderly patient with an intra-abdominal abscess. We also review the current literature.
Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Abdominal Abscess , Bacillus , Bacteremia , FecesABSTRACT
Eggerthella lenta is rarely isolated from blood but may occur as an opportunistic pathogen with high morbidity and mortality. We report a case of E. lenta bacteremia after an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in an end-stage renal disease patient.