Rapid development of secondary sclerosing cholangitis due to vancomycin-resistant enterococci.
Secondary sclerosing cholangitis is a rare complication of acute bacterial cholangitis. The natural course of the disease is a slow progression over years. Here we report about a patient in whom sclerosing cholangitis evolved much faster as a consequence of a persistent biliary infection with vancomycin-resistant enterococci. The infection could be treated successfully with prolonged therapy with linezolid and teicoplanin. This is the first report of sclerosing cholangitis caused by vancomycin-resistant enterococci. It illustrates the rapidity with which this disease can evolve as a fulminant and ultimately fatal complication of acute bacterial cholangitis.
Hoffmeister
Bodo
B
Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Charité University Hospital, Schumannstrasse 20/21, 10117 Berlin, Germany. bodohoff@gmx.de
Ockenga
Johann
J
Schachschal
Guido
G
Suttorp
Norbert
N
Seybold
Joachim
J
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015209:Cholangitis, Sclerosing / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance