Shewanella putrefaciens , a rare cause of splenic abscess

• Published in: Journal of microbiology, immunology and infection Vol. 45; no. 2; pp. 151 - 153
• Main Authors: Basir, Norwani, Yong, Alice Moi Ling, Chong, Vui Heng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier B.V 01.04.2012
• Subjects: Abscess; Abscess - diagnosis; Abscess - drug therapy; Abscess - microbiology; Abscesses; Anti-Bacterial Agents - administration & dosage; Antibiotics; Bacillus; Case reports; Diabetes Complications - diagnosis; Diabetes Complications - drug therapy; Diabetes Complications - pathology; Diabetes mellitus; Female; Gram-negative bacilli; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections - diagnosis; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections - drug therapy; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections - microbiology; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections - pathology; Gram-positive cocci; Humans; Immune system; Infection; Infectious Disease; Intra-abdominal abscess; Medical Education; Morbidity; Mortality; Opportunistic infections; Radiography, Abdominal; Shewanella; Shewanella putrefaciens; Shewanella putrefaciens - isolation & purification; Skin; Soft tissues; Spleen; Splenic Diseases - diagnosis; Splenic Diseases - drug therapy; Splenic Diseases - microbiology; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult; Opportunistic infections; Shewanella; Abscess; Intra-abdominal abscess
• ISSN: 1684-1182; 1995-9133
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2011.09.007

Splenic abscess is uncommon and is still associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Gram-negative bacilli are the most commonly isolated organisms, followed by Gram-positive cocci. However, the predominant organisms found depend on the geographic location. Shewanella putrefaciens is a Gram-negative non-fermentative oxidative bacillus found in the environment. Infection usually manifests with a number of clinical syndromes, most commonly as skin or soft tissue infections, typically in patients whose immune system is compromised. Intra-abdominal abscess is extremely rare. We report a case of a 22-year-old female who presented with S. putrefaciens splenic abscesses as the first manifestation of diabetes mellitus, which was successfully managed with a course of antibiotic therapy.