Urinary Escherichia coli infection presenting with jaundice.
A 53-year-old man with lupus erythematosus (LE) developed an acute hemolytic crisis. Alpha-hemolytic Escherichia coli were isolated from the patient's urine and feces, and high titer anti-alpha-hemolytic antibodies appeared in his serum. The hemolytic crisis could be controlled by specific antibiotic treatment of the urinary tract infection. It is assumed that the patient's basic disease -- and the steroid therapy applied -- facilitated the progression of the urinary tract infection, and before starting with adequate antibiotic treatment his erythrocytes must have been subjected to the effect of massive amounts of alpha-hemolysin. The idea that alpha-hemolysin might contribute to the development of severe hemolysis in man is discussed. It is also assumed that harbouring alpha-hemolytic E. coli in the gut may represent a special risk for the immunocompromised host.
Emody
L
L
Department of Microbiology, University Medical School, Pécs, Hungary.
Molnár
L
L
Kellermayer
M
M
Paál
M
M
Wadström
T
T
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D007565:Jaundice / Q000209:etiology*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; C036507:Hlya protein, E coli