Arcanobacterium Brain Abscesses, Subdural Emphyema, and Bacteremia Complicating Epstein-Barr Virus Mononucleosis

Arcanobacterium haemolyticum bacteremia presenting as severe sepsis: A case report and review of the literature

“… Pharyngitis Symptoms of pharyngitis, Rash, fever. More than 7 days Yes Anemia, Thrombocytopenia, Cavitary pneumonia, Multiple subpleural abscesses, and left gluteal muscle abscess (following dipyrone injection in the context of thrombocytopenia) Poplin, V et a.l 2018 [19] 20-year-old healthy African American male college football player with infectious mononucleosis and prednisone treatment for ten days Pharyngitis, sinusitis Fevers, chills, malaise, anorexia, insomnia, headaches, green rhinorrhea, severe anorexia with swollen and tender posterior cervical lymph nodes. 21 Yes/gram stain of abscess culture was characteristic of A. haemolyticum.…”

“…80 % of the cases (n = 16) were male patients and the M: F ratio was 4:1. Few case reports have shown EBV infection preceding A. Haemolyticum bacteremia [19] , [40] , [38] , [25] , and it is hypothesized By Skov R.L et al, 1997 that EBV infection facilitates invasiveness of A. haemolyticum . Two patients in our review had EBV infection preceding their A. haemolyticum bacteremia.…”

“…Two patients in our review had EBV infection preceding their A. haemolyticum bacteremia. They also received steroids before the presentation [19] , [25] . The rate of reported complications were as follow: Thrombocytopenia in 35 % (n = 7), Cavitary pneumonia in 35 % (n = 7), Lemierre’s syndrome in 35 % (n = 7), intracranial abscesses in 30 % (n = 6), Hyperbilirubinemia in 25 % (n = 5), meningitis in 25 % (n = 5), Transaminitis in 20 % (n = 4), Hypotension in 20 % (n = 4), pleural effusion in 15 % (n = 3), endocarditis in 10 % (n = 2), coagulopathy in 10 % (n = 2), lower extremity abscesses in 10% (n = 2), orbital/periorbital cellulitis in 10% (n = 2), intubation in 10% (n = 2), AKI in 10 % (n = 2), abducent nerve palsy in 10% (n = 2), acute liver failure in 5 % (n = 1), lung abscesses in 5 % (n = 1), exudative pericarditis in 5 % (n = 1) and vasopressors need in 5 % (n = 1).…”

When upper respiratory tract infections go rogue: A case report of Arcanobacterium haemolyticum Cerebral Abscess

“…Intracranial abscess due to A. haemolyticum is another rare occurrence and has been reported as a complication of sinusitis, head trauma and odentogenic source [ [10] , [11] , [12] ]. Ouriemchi et al reported A. haemolyticum cerebral abscess that mimicked a brain tumor [ 13 ].…”

“…The pathogen is usually sensitive to beta lactams, carbapenems and a range of other antibiotics [ 15 , 16 ]. Penicillins and cephalosporins are commonly used for invasive infections including cerebral abscesses [ 10 , 16 ]. Some A. haemolyticum isolates are tolerant to penicillin and may not be eradicated from pharynx [ 17 ].…”