Bacillus cereus: the forgotten pathogen.
BACKGROUND
Infection with Bacillus cereus is generally associated with gastrointestinal effects of food poisoning linked to infected rice. Isolates of B. cereus in hospital and clinical settings from any material other than vomitus or feces are commonly dismissed as contaminants.


METHODS
We report a case of B. cereus surgical site infection after fasciotomy in a healthy 31 year-old man admitted to the orthopedic ward with a comminuted fracture of the tibia. No source was identified.


CONCLUSIONS
This report highlights the risk of surgical site infection with an unlikely bacterium known to contaminate surgical materials. It stresses the importance of vigilance against this infrequent but potentially serious non-gastrointestinal bacillary infection, as organisms dismissed initially as contaminants may lead to rapid clinical deterioration. The use of antimicrobial agents with nosocomial coverage, even of non-nosocomial pathogens, is considered in the treatment of postoperative surgical site infections.
Pillai
Anand
A
Departments of Orthopaedics & Trauma Surgery, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.
Thomas
Stephanie
S
Arora
Jayant
J
D000328:Adult; D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology*; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery*