Septic Shock Due to Clostridium perfringens

Abstract

Clostridium perfringens is an anaerobic Gram-positive bacterium. We present the case of a 75-year-old female presented to the emergency department with progressively worsening acute on chronic left hip pain. It was not until the third day of hospitalization when the initial blood cultures finalized as Clostridium perfringens, antibiotics were changed to piperacillin-tazobactam and clindamycin. Despite the latest measurements, the patient continued getting hypotensive and progressed to multiorgan failure resulting in death by the end of the third day. The recognition of risk factors in addition to gram-positive rod cultures in the setting of septic shock reinforces the importance of appropriate and early empiric antibiotics management and infectious disease consultation to avoid fatal complications.

Unexpected Death Associated With Clostridial Sepsis

“…Risk factors for clostridial sepsis include increasing age, diabetes mellitus, liver cirrhosis, malignancy, and immunocompromised states. 1,8,10,11 Men and women appear to be equally at risk of the disease. 12 A recent study found the mean age of patients who contracted C. perfringens sepsis was 71 years.…”

“…Clostridium perfringens is a spore-forming gram-positive, anaerobic commensal bacterium of the genitourinary and gastrointestinal tracts, and the skin 1 . It is known to cause gastroenteritis, myonecrosis, liver abscesses, and gas gangrene 1 .…”

“…Clostridium perfringens is a spore-forming gram-positive, anaerobic commensal bacterium of the genitourinary and gastrointestinal tracts, and the skin 1 . It is known to cause gastroenteritis, myonecrosis, liver abscesses, and gas gangrene 1 . Clostridium perfringens sepsis is, however, a rare entity with a high mortality rate, 2 making prompt diagnosis and correct management imperative.…”

Clostridium perfringens sepsis in three patients with acute leukemia and review of the literature

“…Clostridium perfringens is a Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium naturally found in the intestines. Intestinal dysbacteriosis can be caused by hypo-immunity or external factors, such as changes in the diet and drugs, and can result in C. perfringens sepsis [ 1 ]. C. perfringens sepsis is extremely rare in patients with acute leukemia; however, the mortality rate in these patients is very high.…”