Aeromonas hydrophila bacteraemia and portal pyaemia

• Published in: Singapore medical journal Vol. 49; no. 4; pp. 346 - 348
• Main Authors: TULSIDAS, H, ONG, Y. Y, CHAN, K. C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Singapore Medical Association 01.04.2008
• Subjects: Aeromonas hydrophila - pathogenicity; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Bacteremia - drug therapy; Bacteremia - microbiology; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial sepsis; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Ciprofloxacin - therapeutic use; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; General aspects; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections - drug therapy; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections - physiopathology; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Portal Vein - microbiology; Psoas Abscess - complications; Psoas Abscess - microbiology; Thrombosis - complications; Thrombosis - diagnostic imaging; Thrombosis - microbiology; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Abscess; bacteraemia; Aeromonas hydrophila; psoas abscess; Bacteremia; Infection; portal vein thrombosis; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Vibrionaceae; Tropical medicine; Venous thrombosis; Portal vein; Iliopsoas muscle
• ISSN: 0037-5675

The Aeromonas species uncommonly cause disease in humans. We report portal pyaemia secondary to Aeromonas hydrophila bacteraemia occurring in a 71-year-old Chinese man with no history of hepatobiliary disease or malignancy. He presented with fever, rigors and abdominal bloating for four days and was subsequently found to have Aeromonas hydrophila bacteraemia, portal vein thrombosis and a psoas abscess. He was treated with ciprofloxacin and had a good recovery. Aeromonas hydrophila infection is an uncommon cause of intestinal and extraintestinal infection in man, but must be suspected in immunocompromised hosts and in those exposed to brackish or salt water.