title: Capnocytophaga infection involving a portal-systemic vascular shunt.
abstract: Capnocytophaga sp., a microaerophilic gram-negative isolate of the human oral cavity, has previously been reported to cause sinusitis, empyema, wound infections, conjunctivitis, subphrenic abscess, osteomyelitis, bacteremia, cervical abscess, and endocarditis. We report the unusual case of infection with this organism at the anastamotic site of a splenorenal portosystemic vascular shunt. In this case, the pathogenesis is presumed to be bacteremia related to mucosal trauma from endoscopic injection sclerotherapy or bacteremia secondary to dental infection. The characteristics and antibiotic sensitivities of Capnocytophaga are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, New England Medical Center Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Mello
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Snydman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arora
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D002206:Capnocytophaga / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D041964:Cytophagaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D011170:Portasystemic Shunt, Surgical; D015911:Sclerotherapy; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology*