06 April 2016
: Case report
Clostridium Perfringens Infection in a Febrile Patient with Severe Hemolytic Anemia
Rare disease, Educational Purpose (only if useful for a systematic review or synthesis)
Masamitsu HashibaBCDE, Atsutoshi TominoBCD, Nobuyoshi TakenakaBCD, Tomonori HattoriBCD, Hideki KanoBCD, Masanobu TsudaBCD, Naoshi TakeyamaABCDEFDOI: 10.12659/AJCR.895721
Am J Case Rep 2016; 17:219-223
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) can cause various infections, including gas gangrene, crepitant cellulitis, and fasciitis. While C. perfringens sepsis is uncommon, it is often rapidly fatal because the alpha toxin of this bacterium induces massive intravascular hemolysis by disrupting red blood cell membranes.
CASE REPORT: We present the case of a male patient with diabetes who developed a fatal liver abscess with massive intravascular hemolysis and septic shock caused by toxigenic C. perfringens. The peripheral blood smear showed loss of central pallor, with numerous spherocytes. Multiplex PCR only detected expression of the cpa gene, indicating that the pathogen was C. perfringens type A.
CONCLUSIONS: C. perfringens infection should be considered in a febrile patient who has severe hemolytic anemia with a very low MCV, hemolyzed blood sample, and negative Coombs test. The characteristic peripheral blood smear findings may facilitate rapid diagnosis.
Keywords: Anemia, Hemolytic - microbiology, Aged, 80 and over, Clostridium Infections - diagnosis, Clostridium perfringens, Fatal Outcome, Fever - microbiology, Liver Abscess - microbiology, Shock, Septic - microbiology
2208 27
In Press
30 Sep 2023 : Case report
Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.941621
29 Sep 2023 : Case report
Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.940892
28 Sep 2023 : Case report
Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.941668
28 Sep 2023 : Case report
Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.941808
Most Viewed Current Articles
06 Dec 2021 : Case report
DOI :10.12659/AJCR.934406
Am J Case Rep 2021; 22:e934406
07 Dec 2021 : Case report
DOI :10.12659/AJCR.934347
Am J Case Rep 2021; 22:e934347
13 Jul 2022 : Case report
DOI :10.12659/AJCR.936441
Am J Case Rep 2022; 23:e936441
23 Feb 2022 : Case report
DOI :10.12659/AJCR.935250
Am J Case Rep 2022; 23:e935250