title: Non-life-threatening sepsis: report of two cases.
abstract: Streptococcus bovis is one of the nonenterococcal species included among the streptococci group D. It is part of the normal bowel flora in humans and animals, but it is also responsible for infectious diseases (10-15% of all cases of bacterial endocarditis). Many cases of bacteremia and metastatic abscesses (spleen, liver, soft tissues, bone, meninges, endocardium) caused by S. bovis were reported as associated with digestive tract diseases, mainly colonic disease, and, in particular colonic neoplasms, or chronic liver diseases. A role in carcinogenesis has been suggested for this microorganism. The authors report two cases of S. bovis sepsis, one associated with colonic neoplasm and the other with liver cirrhosis and gastric carcinoma. Discussion is focused on probable mechanisms that favor gastric colonization and systemic diffusion of S. bovis from the gut in patients with gastrointestinal neoplasms or chronic liver disease and provides clinical recommendations for patients with S. bovis infections.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Internal Medicine, Catholic University, Rome, Italy. mmontalto@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montalto
authors.forename: Donatello
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Izzi
authors.forename: Micaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: La Regina
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nucera
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manna
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gasbarrini
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016985:Streptococcus bovis / Q000378:metabolism*