Clostridium septicum myonecrosis complicating diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome

Pediatr Nephrol. 2008 Jul;23(7):1171-5. doi: 10.1007/s00467-008-0774-5. Epub 2008 Feb 27.

Abstract

We report the case of a 19-month-old male child with diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) who developed swelling of the right arm at the site of a peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC), fever, and later, ecchymosis. Wound cultures at the time of surgical debridement grew Clostridium septicum. The child subsequently required amputation of the right arm and prolonged therapy with parenteral penicillin and clindamycin. Clostridium septicum infections in children with HUS have been associated with a high rate of mortality. Along with colon cancer, diarrhea-associated HUS comprises a clinical entity which appears to predispose to atraumatic C. septicum infection, where acidic and anaerobic conditions in the diseased colon favor C. septicum invasion. Though not well recognized among pediatric nephrologists, C. septicum infection constitutes a severe, albeit rare, complication of diarrhea-associated HUS, but one in which a high index of suspicion is warranted as aggressive surgical and antibiotic therapy may be life-saving.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amputation, Surgical
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Arm
  • Clostridium Infections / complications
  • Clostridium Infections / microbiology*
  • Clostridium Infections / pathology
  • Clostridium Infections / therapy
  • Clostridium septicum / isolation & purification*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Debridement
  • Diarrhea, Infantile / complications*
  • Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / complications
  • Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Muscle, Skeletal / microbiology*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Muscular Diseases / microbiology*
  • Muscular Diseases / pathology
  • Muscular Diseases / therapy
  • Necrosis
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents