Carnobacterium inhibens isolated in blood culture of an immunocompromised, metastatic cancer patient: a case report and literature review

BMC Infectious Diseases

Prameet M. Sheth¹  Carson Ka-Lok Lo² 

[1] Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada;Division of Microbiology, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, 76 Stuart Street, K7L 2V7, Kingston, Ontario, Canada;Division of Infectious Diseases, Juravinski Cancer Centre, McMaster University Infectious Diseases Residency Program, 699 Concession Street, L8V 5C2, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada;

关键词: Bacteremia;    Carnobacterium inhibens;    Carnobacterium;    Case report;    Immunocompromised;    Sepsis;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12879-021-06095-7

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundCarnobacterium species are lactic acid-producing Gram-positive bacteria that have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and Health Canada for use as a food bio-preservative. The use of live bacteria as a food additive and its potential risk of infections in immunocompromised patients are not well understood.Case presentationAn 81-year-old male with a history of metastatic prostate cancer on androgen deprivation therapy and chronic steroids presented to our hospital with a 2-week history of productive cough, dyspnea, altered mentation, and fever. Extensive computed tomography imaging revealed multifocal pneumonia without other foci of infection. He was diagnosed with pneumonia and empirically treated with ceftriaxone and vancomycin. Blood cultures from admission later returned positive for Carnobacterium inhibens. He achieved clinical recovery with step-down to oral amoxicillin/clavulanic acid for a total 7-day course of antibiotics.ConclusionsThis is the fourth reported case of bacteremia with Carnobacterium spp. isolated from humans. This case highlights the need to better understand the pathogenicity and disease spectrum of bacteria used in the food industry for bio-preservation, especially in immunocompromised patients.

【 授权许可】

CC BY