title: Clostridium sordellii bacteremia: case report and review.
abstract: Clostridium sordellii is a gram-positive, anaerobic bacillus that has rarely been implicated as a human pathogen. It produces several exotoxins, which contribute to the progressive edema and refractory shock frequently seen with human infection. There have been eight prior reports of bacteremic C. sordellii infection and seven prior reports of nonbacteremic infections not due to myonecrosis of skeletal muscle. Mortality was 50% in the bacteremic group and 71% in the nonbacteremic group. Mortality correlated with both shock and leukemoid reaction at presentation. We present a case of C. sordellii sepsis in an asplenic patient with sickle beta thalassemia and inflammatory bowel disease, and we review the literature.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, North Shore University Hospital, Cornell University Medical College, Manhasset, New York 11030.
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Spera
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications