A case of fatal sepsis due to Vibrio vulnificus

A 66-year-old male with chronic alcoholic liver injury was admitted on July 27, 1986 to our hospital with complaints of high fever, convulsion and skin erythema. He had consumed raw fish 3 days before, and had a scratch wound over the right arm and left leg because he had slipped in a small stream in the woods the day before admission. He was already in shock state with sepsis of V. vulnificus and DIC on admission. Although the treatment with ABPC, CP, CAZ, MINO for sepsis, and Heparin & Antithrombin III for DIC was immediately begun, he died only 10 hours after admission. On autopsy, the skin lesion revealed phlegmon with necrotizing angitis and the liver showed fatty changes with Mallory's body. The causative organism was detected from the blood and on autopsy from the skin wound, bile juice, liver, spleen, kidney and bone marrow, and its type was determined as a V. vulnificus serovar 4. It was suspected that the route of infection in this case was the raw fish rather than via the wound because the water in which he had been wounded was fresh water and the bacterium was not detected from the water, shells, nor moss existing there.     

A life saving case of Vibrio vulnificus (septic type)]

After eating raw shellfish, 62-year-old man suffered from watery diarrhea and leg pain. The disease developed to septicemia and necrotizing fasciitis of bilateral lower extremities. Vibrio vulnificus was isolated from wound. He was treated with antibiotics, surgical debridement and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and consequently was saved. Effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on V. vulnificus infection was discussed.     

Blastomycosis presenting as polyarticular septic arthritis

Articular infection with Blastomyces dermatitidis frequently is difficult to diagnose as it resembles bacterial arthritis in several ways. This report of an elderly man who had initially monoarticular and eventually polyarticular arthritis illustrates the clinical and laboratory findings that should suggest blastomycosis. Treatment with amphotericin B and ketoconazole in sequence led to complete resolution of the infection.     

Protracted familial mediterranean fever arthritis presenting as septic arthritis

In Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), arthritis is the initial symptom in 25% of patients. Although FMF arthritis is acute and self-limited, in 5% of cases protracted arthritis usually affecting large joints such as knee may occur. In this report, two cases are presented who were initially diagnosed as septic arthritis, first of which had four and the second had two synovectomy operations with the diagnosis of septic arthritis. Later on they were diagnosed as FMF with detailed history. We aimed to emphasize the importance of diagnosis of FMF, which is based mainly on history and clinical features in order to prevent unnecessary operations and suffering of the patient.     

Two case reports of septic shock due to Vibrio vulnificus with liver cirrhosis

We have recently experienced a case of Vibrio vulnificus septicemia which occurred in a patient with hepatic cirrhosis, and as we were able to give early antibiotic treatment, the patient survived. We would like to report this case here together with another case experienced 2 years ago. Case 1 was a 58-year-old male who was attending our hospital as an outpatient for hepatic cirrhosis. At 5:30 pm on August 8, 1987, he consumed abalone and giant clam and at 9 pm complained of high fever with shaking chills. He was admitted to our department as an emergency case. Cefoperazone was administered resulting in a decline of fever on the following day. During the course of treatment he fell transiently into pre-DIC, but due mainly to the administration of antibiotics his condition was subsided. Case 2 was a 53-year-old male who was under medical care in our hospital for grave hepatic cirrhosis. On October 11, 1985, he consumed sushi and two days later suffered chills and pyrexia. A blood culture revealed Vibrio vulnificus. His condition improved transiently with administration of Cefazolin, but oliguria, hypotension and ascites occurred subsequently, and finally the patient died on the 22nd day.     

Systemic lupus erythematosus presenting as pneumococcal septicaemia and septic arthritis.

A 50 year old woman presented with pneumococcal septicaemia, septic arthritis, and a lobar pneumonia and was subsequently diagnosed as having systemic lupus erythematosus. The blood film and splenic 99mTc sulphur colloid uptake were normal, although selective functional hyposplenism was shown by the impaired clearance of immunoglobulin coated erythrocytes. Systemic lupus erythematosus presenting with fulminating pneumococcal sepsis in the presence of selective defects in spleen function is previously unreported.     

Vibrio vulnificus septicaemia presenting as spontaneous necrotising cellulitis in a woman with hepatic cirrhosis

Vibrio vulnificus is a virulent marine organism commonly found in Hong Kong coastal waters which contaminates local sea-food. It may produce a primary septicaemia, often associated with secondary skin lesions, following ingestion of raw shell fish. We report a rapidly fatal case of primary V. vulnificus septicaemia in a 50-year-old housewife with post-hepatitic cirrhosis presenting as spontaneous necrotising cellulitis of the legs. V. vulnificus infection should be considered in patients with a history of liver disease with acute septicaemia and characteristic skin lesions.     

Rheumatic disease presenting as septic arthritis: a report of 10 cases

To determine the forms and characteristics of rheumatic diseases whose initial presentation mimics septic arthritis. Retrospective study of 398 patients hospitalized between 1979 and 2005 for arthritis diagnosed and treated as septic. In 10 cases, initial presentation of a rheumatic disease was highly suggestive of septic arthritis, and the patient was treated as such. Three had rheumatoid arthritis, 3 spondyloarthropathies, 2 unclassified rheumatic diseases, 1 Wegener granulomatosis and 1 cytosteatonecrosis. Mean time to diagnosis of rheumatic arthritis was 6 months. There were 7 males and 3 females aged from 15 to 77 years. Six had fever, and 3 had leucocytosis. Average ESR was 68 mm/1 h, and C-reactive protein was above 100 mg/l in 6 patients. Five patients had radiological signs suggestive of septic arthritis. Joint fluid count was above 100,000 WBCs/mm³ in 2/5. Synovial biopsy suggested septic arthritis in 5 out of 6. These cases of pseudoseptic arthritis were indistinguishable from true septic arthritis. Follow-up is required in septic arthritis with negative culture findings to exclude rheumatic disease.     

Vibrio vulnificus as a health hazard for shrimp consumers.

Over the last 30 years, a number of Vibrio species found in the aquatic environment have been indicated as cause of disease in human beings. Vibrio vulnificus is an emergent pathogen, an invasive and lethal marine bacterium related to wound infection and held accountable for gastroenteritis and primary septicemia. It occurs quite frequently in marine organisms, mainly in mollusks. This study aimed at isolating and identifying strains of V. vulnificus based upon the analysis of twenty samples of seabob shrimp, Xiphopenaeus kroyeri (Heller), purchased at the Mucuripe fish market (Fortaleza, Brazil). TCBS agar was used to isolate suspect strains. Seven of twenty-nine strains isolated from six different samples were confirmed as such by means of biochemical evidence and thus submitted to biological assays to determine their virulence. The susceptibility of the V. vulnificus strains to a number of antibiotics was tested. None of the V. vulnificus strains showed signs of virulence during a 24-hour observation period, possibly due to the shedding of the capsules by the cells. As to the results of the antimicrobial susceptibility tests, the seven above-mentioned V. vulnificus strains were found to be sensitive to nitrofurantoin (NT), ciprofloxacin (CIP), gentamicin (GN) and chloramphenicol (CO) and resistant to clindamycin (CI), penicillin (PN) and ampicillin (AP).     

Sclerosing mesenteritis presenting as protein-losing enteropathy: a fatal case

Sclerosing mesenteritis is a rare, benign disorder characterized by non-specific and chronic inflammation of the mesenteric adipose tissue. The disease usually presents with gastrointestinal symptoms and abdominal masses. The long-term prognosis is favorable, but it often becomes severe. In the present report we describe a 77-year-old man who presented with diarrhea, massive ascites and an abdominal mass. The rapid deterioration of the general condition of the patient limited invasive examinations and left the primary disease unclear. Despite symptomatic therapy, malnutrition and hypovolemia were prolonged, and he died. The definitive diagnosis of sclerosing mesenteritis and the cause of the fatal outcome were disclosed at autopsy. This case indicates that sclerosing mesenteritis is a potentially-fatal disease and the need for aggressive treatment should be discussed.