We
report a fatal case of
Shewanella algae
bacteremia accompanied by
cellulitis in both
legs of a
chronic renal failure patient who had not been exposed to
sea water or raw fish. A 47-year-old
male on
hemodialysis was admitted to our clinic due to
pain in both
legs accompanied by a febrile
sensation that started 2 days prior to his visit. A
blood culture specimen revealed S. algae, a rare
human opportunistic pathogen. In spite of early and appropriate antimicrobial
treatment, the
patient died of
septic shock on the second day of his
hospital stay. Recently, serious
infections caused by
Shewanella species have been reported in increasing frequency.
Hepatobiliary diseases have been proposed as
predisposing factors, not only for
infection by this organism, but also for fatality. However, we should be aware of the significance of S. algae in
patients with
renal insufficiency, especially those on
maintenance hemodialysis. Herein, we
report our case with
review relevant
literature.