title: Fatal Bacillus cereus sepsis following resolving neutropenic enterocolitis during the treatment of acute leukemia.
abstract: Bacillus cereus is increasingly being acknowledged as a serious bacterial pathogen in immunosuppressed hosts. We report a case of fatal B. cereus sepsis in a patient with newly diagnosed acute leukemia following resolving neutropenic enterocolitis. Gastrointestinal complaints are common during induction chemotherapy, yet some antimicrobial coverage suitable for generalized neutropenia is not optimal for the eradication of B. cereus. This case demonstrates that, in the neutropenic patient with gastrointestinal complaints or in the setting of resolving neutropenic enterocolitis, it is important to anticipate possible B. cereus infection and sepsis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA.
authors.forename: Amy S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ginsburg
authors.forename: Lupe G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Salazar
authors.forename: Lawrence D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: True
authors.forename: Mary L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Disis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016863:Bacillaceae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D001409:Bacillus cereus; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004760:Enterocolitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D015255:Idarubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000150:complications*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003561:Cytarabine; D015255:Idarubicin