title: Severe Serratia liquefaciens sepsis following vitamin C infusion treatment by a naturopathic practitioner.
abstract: A 66-year-old female patient developed severe Serratia liquefaciens sepsis following vitamin C infusion treatment by a naturopathic practitioner. The clinical course of the infection was characterized by several complications, and the direct costs of the hospital stay amounted to about 40000 Euro. Genotypically identical S. liquefaciens was isolated from the residue of the infusate given to the patient, as well as from the washbasin overflow and from two other infusion bottles. A careful inspection of the dispensing facilities and review of procedures used to prepare the infusate revealed several indications of poor hygiene. However, the source of contamination could not be fully clarified. This case report raises questions about the local facilities and personal qualifications required for naturopathic practitioners to conduct invasive procedures and demonstrates that lapses in hygiene can lead to severe morbidity and high cost.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. steffen.engelhart@ukb.uni-bonn.de
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Engelhart
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saborowski
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krakau
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scherholz-Schlösser
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Heyer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Exner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009324:Naturopathy / Q000379:methods*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D012705:Serratia / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016868:Serratia Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001205:Ascorbic Acid