A healthy 34-year-old man was admitted to the
intensive care unit through the
emergency room with a drowsy mentality and severe chilling. Following a
diagnosis of
septic shock of unknown origin, the
patient was treated with broad spectrum
antibiotics and massive hydration. After recovery of
consciousness, he complained of a severe
toothache that originated from the right lower
teeth. Under dental
consultation, he was diagnosed as having an acute
periapical abscess of the right mandibular first
molar. The
patient underwent extraction and
cyst enucleation. Gram negative bacilli isolated from
blood culture on day 5 after admission were identified as
Prevotella species. After receiving
antibiotic treatment and undergoing dental
procedures, the
patient made a full recovery. We
report on a case of
septic shock due to
infection by
Prevotella species in
association with an acute
periapical abscess.