Fulminant Pseudomembranous Colitis Leading to Clostridium Paraputrificum Bacteremia

Abstract

Clostridium species are spore-forming gram-positive anaerobic rod bacteria that cause a broad range of infections in humans, including intra-abdominal infections, myonecrosis, and bacteremia. Pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) is a severe form of infection caused by Clostridioides difficile. Clostridial bacteremia usually occurs in the settings of neutropenia, alcohol abuse, diabetes mellitus, sickle cell anemia, malignancy, hemodialysis, inflammatory bowel disease, and AIDS. We report a case of fulminant PMC leading to C. paraputrificum bacteremia in an otherwise immunocompetent patient. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of such an occurrence.

Keywords: clostridium difficle infection; clostridium paraputrificum bacteremia; fulminant colitis; pseudomembranous colitis.