Korean J Lab Med.  2006 Oct;26(5):358-361. 10.3343/kjlm.2006.26.5.358.

A Case of Clostridium perfringens Septicemia with Fatal Hemolytic Complication

• Kwon O
• Kim HY
• Uh Y
• Hwang GY
• Kim HY
• Yoon KJ

• KMID: 2238855
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3343/kjlm.2006.26.5.358

Abstract

Massive intravascular hemolysis secondary to Clostridium perfringens septicemia is rare but often fatal. We report a case of a fatal clostridial hemolytic complication in a 71-year-old woman with probable refractory anemia. The patient was admitted to the emergency room due to a comatose mental state and a high fever. Laboratory analysis showed massive hemolysis. She died from severe anemia two hours after admission. The next day, blood cultures grew gram positive cocci and boxcarshaped gram positive rods, which were identified as coagulase-negative staphylococci and C. perfringens, respectively.

Keyword

Clostridium perfringens; Massive hemolysis; Septicemia

MeSH Terms

Aged
Anemia
Anemia, Refractory
Clostridium perfringens*
Clostridium*
Coma
Emergency Service, Hospital
Female
Fever
Gram-Positive Cocci
Gram-Positive Rods
Hemolysis
Humans
Sepsis*

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Peripheral blood smear showed rare intact red cells with spherocytes, and occasional rod-shaped microorganisms (× 1,000). But it was not determined whether the microorganisms were pathogens or contaminants.

• 

  Fig. 2. Colonies grown on blood agar plate showed double zone hemolysis, which comprised an inner zone of complete hemolysis and an outer zone of incomplete hemolysis.

Reference

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