Denture-Associated Oral Microbiome and Periodontal Disease Causing an Anaerobic Pyogenic Liver Abscess in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Pyogenic liver abscesses (PLA) develop from the spread of infection through the portal circulation, biliary infections or arterial hematogenous seeding in the setting of systemic infections. PLA are often poly-microbial and are uncommonly reported to be due to anaerobic species. We report the case of a previously healthy, immunocompetent 63-year-old man with hepatic abscesses as a result of Fusobacterium nucleatum periodontal disease. In addition, a systemic review of the literature is performed. Fusobacterium is a very rare cause of PLA in immunocompetent hosts with only a handful of cases reported in the literature. Although anaerobic infections such as Fusobacterium most often occur in immunocompromised individuals, clinicians should have a high index of suspicion in immunocompetent patients with periodontal disease or chronic stomatitis.