[Bacteremia and multiple and recurrent skin ulcers due to Brucella melitensis. A new modality of self-induced infection].
Self-induced infections are a special form of factitious disease. They are characterized by the autoinoculation of contaminated substances or bacterial cultures which may lead to cutaneous infections, bacteremias, or arthritis by various germs. The conditions produced are difficult to diagnose and may lead to multiple operations, and sometimes mutilations or death of the patient. Herewith, a patient who, over a period of 10 months, presented 4 episodes of bacteremia and cutaneous abscess in which Brucella melitensis was isolated is described. In addition, during the second admission, the patient had factitious fever. Despite the evidence of self induced infection, the patient denied autoinoculation however, following confrontation with the facts and supportive psychotherapy the patient has not presented any further episodes after 6 months of follow up. Although the microorganisms involved in this type of disorders are various, this is the first case described in the literature of self-induced infections by Brucella melitensis.
Martínez Salazar
F
F
Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital General, Albacete.
Solera
J
J
Cebrián
D
D
Crespo
M D
MD
García-Blázquez
R
R
Puras
A
A
D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D017347:Brucella melitensis; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005162:Factitious Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology
Bacteriemia y múltiples y repetidos abscesos cutáneos por Brucella melitensis. Una nueva modalidad de infección autoinducida.