Fatal septicemia due to Mycoplasma arginini: a new human zoonosis.
A 64-year-old slaughterhouse worker with advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma developed septicemia and pneumonia. Mycoplasma arginini, a wall-free prokaryote found in a variety of domestic animal hosts, was repeatedly isolated from blood and bronchial washings from the patient. Immunosuppression, in part caused by hypogammaglobulinemia, probably played a key role in predisposing the patient to a fatal infection. This case suggests that animal mycoplasmas should be considered in the list of infectious agents acquired by immunosuppressed hosts.
Yechouron
A
A
Department of Medicine, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Lefebvre
J
J
Robson
H G
HG
Rose
D L
DL
Tully
J G
JG
D016470:Bacteremia / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000382:microbiology*; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000382:microbiology*