Polymicrobial anaerobic sepsis due to Bacteroides fragilis, Eggerthella lenta, Ruminoccocus gnavus, and Bilophila wadsworthia in a patient with myeloproliferative neoplasm

Anaerobe. 2022 Dec:78:102641. doi: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2022.102641. Epub 2022 Sep 13.

Abstract

We report a rare case of polymicrobial anaerobic bacteremia caused by four different gut anaerobes: Bacteroides fragilis, Eggerthella lenta, Bilophila wadsworthia, and Ruminococcus gnavus. Early initiation of appropriate therapy and species identification with matrix assisted laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) resulted in full recovery from the infection. Our case highlights the clinical significance of polymicrobial cultures and the importance of performing anaerobic cultures for blood specimens to ensure proper identification and treatment.

Keywords: Anaerobic sepsis; Bacteroides fragilis; Bilophila wadsworthia; Eggerthella lenta; Myeloproliferative neoplasm; Ruminoccocus gnavus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anaerobiosis
  • Bacteremia* / diagnosis
  • Bacteremia* / drug therapy
  • Bacteria, Anaerobic
  • Bacterial Infections*
  • Bacteroides fragilis
  • Bilophila
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Supplementary concepts

  • Eggerthella lenta