Korean J Med.  2016 Aug;91(1):57-61. 10.3904/kjm.2016.91.1.57.

A Fulminant Case of Clostridium perfringens Septic Shock caused by a Liver Abscess with Massive Hemolytic Anemia

• Kang SM
• Yoon JA
• Kim S
• So S
• Lee H
• Jo S
• Huh JW

• KMID: 2345585
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjm.2016.91.1.57

Abstract

A 65-year-old female visited the emergency room for severe back pain radiating to the neck. Aortic dissection computed tomography revealed a ruptured liver abscess and large pneumoperitoneum. Although emergent percutaneous drainage of the liver abscess and aggressive resuscitation were performed, massive hemolytic anemia and disseminated intravascular hemolysis developed and she subsequently died, 11 hours after her visit to the emergency room. Clostridium perfringens was identified in a blood culture obtained at the emergency room. We report this case because refractory septic shock due to a liver abscess and massive intravascular hemolytic anemia caused by Clostridium perfringens in a healthy female is rare.

Keyword

Clostridium perfringens; Shock, Septic; Anemia, Hemolytic; Disseminated intravascular coagulation

MeSH Terms

Aged
Anemia, Hemolytic*
Back Pain
Clostridium perfringens*
Clostridium*
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
Drainage
Emergency Service, Hospital
Female
Hemolysis
Humans
Liver Abscess*
Liver*
Neck
Pneumoperitoneum
Resuscitation
Shock, Septic*