A Case of Pyogenic Liver Abscess Infected with Fusobacterium necrophorum Depicted by Microscopy and Confirmed by Tissue Culture

Abstract

A 40-year-old man was admitted with a continuous high grade fever accompanying a relatively large solitary liver abscess with septations. A puncture of the abscess revealed gram-negative rods that could be identified histologically as Fusobacterium necrophorum, which was later confirmed by tissue culture. The patient was switched to meropenem and penicillin, and cured of the infection. Fusobacterium necrophorum is a rare bacterium causing potentially fatal liver abscesses in humans. Clinicians should bear Fusobacterium necrophorum in mind when treating patients with an enlarged solitary liver abscess.

Two Cases of Liver Abscesses Derived from Dental Disease in Patients with Alcoholic Chronic Pancreatitis

“…A total of 11 cases of PLA derived from dental disease reported between 1987 and 2013, based on our search of PubMed (Table) (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9). Fusobacterium and Streptococcus are reported to be major species of causative bacteria of PLA arising from dental infection and were also detected on abscess fluid cultures in our cases; these bacteria are also known to be normal oral flora.…”

Hepatic abscess caused byFusobacterium necrophorumafter a trip to the dentist

“…For a single abscess over 5 cm in diameter, catheter drainage is preferred over needle aspiration, and some even prefer surgical intervention over percutaneous drainage 6. Surgical drainage is also appropriate for multiple abscesses, loculated abscesses, abscesses with viscous content that can block the drain tube and underlying diseases that require surgical management 6…”

“…A colonoscopy, performed as part of the work up for a liver abscess (as there might have been a relation with colonic neoplasm6), was normal.…”

“…As most pyogenic liver abscesses are polymicrobial, only a handful of cases of F. necrophorum hepatic abscesses have been described,6 and specific incidence of this pathogen in liver abscesses is unknown.…”

A Case of Lemierre's Syndrome in Association with Liver Abscess without Any Other Metastatic Lesions

“…There are a few cases of necrobacillosis with no clear sources (3,26). Nozawa et al reported a case of liver abscess infected with Fusobacterium necrophorum without pharyngeal infections or IJV thrombosis (27). Furthermore, according to Nohrstrom et al, necro-bacillosis may be accompanied by abscesses without any apparent venous thrombosis (28).…”