Law ST, Lee MK. A middle-aged lady with a pyogenic liver abscess caused by Clostridium perfringens.
World J Hepatol 2012;
4:252-5. [PMID:
22993668 PMCID:
PMC3443708 DOI:
10.4254/wjh.v4.i8.252]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2011] [Revised: 08/06/2012] [Accepted: 08/23/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The pyogenic liver abscess caused by Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) is a rare, but rapidly fatal infection. It is usually associated with malignancy and immunosuppression. We report the case of 50-year-old lady with the secondary liver metastases from rectal cancer presented with fever and epigastric pain. The identification of Gram-positive bacilli septicaemia, the presence of gas-forming liver abscess and massive intravascular hemolysis should lead to the suspicion of C. perfringens infection. Here we review twenty cases published since 1990 and their clinical features are discussed. The importance of "an aggressive treatment policy" with multidisciplinary team approach is emphasized.
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