title: Peritonitis caused by Bifidobacterium longum: case report and literature review.
abstract: Bifidobacterium spp. rarely causes human infections. We report a case of a 42-year-old man with a history of pancolonic diverticulosis, who suffered a purulent peritonitis caused by Bifidobacterium longum secondary to intestinal perforation. Clinical outcome was good after urgent surgery and antibiotic treatment with imipenem and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. Our case shows that Bifidobacterium spp. should be considered as a cause of peritonitis, especially in patients with risk of intestinal perforation. The review of the literature shows that these organisms can cause a wide spectrum of severe infections, especially in patients with underlying diseases. Infections caused by Bifidobacterium spp. may be overlooked or underreported since it may be considered normal microbiota.
authors.affiliation: Sección de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario de Guadalajara, C/. Donante de sangre s/n, 19002 Guadalajara, Spain. Electronic address: danielt@sescam.jccm.es.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tena
authors.affiliation: Sección de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario de Guadalajara, C/. Donante de sangre s/n, 19002 Guadalajara, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Losa
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Bacteriología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Carretera de Majadahonda-Pozuelo Km 2, 28220 Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Bacteriología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Carretera de Majadahonda-Pozuelo Km 2, 28220 Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sáez-Nieto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D039941:Bifidobacteriales Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Bifidobacteria; Bifidobacterium longum; Peritonitis; Probiotic