title: Identification of Clostridium septicum in a tubo-ovarian abscess: a rare case and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) is a conglomerated mass of pelvic organs including the tube, the ovary, and the bowel. The most commonly isolated organisms from TOAs are Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Bacteroides species.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reported a case of Clostridium septicum (C. septicum) infection from a ruptured TOA with atypical clinical features. Culture of intra-abdominal free fluid obtained during surgery yielded C. septicum. VITEK II (bioMérieux, France) automated system was used for advanced identification of the bacteria. Parenteral clindamycin in combination with an aminoglycoside was used. The patient was discharged 19 days after the surgery and was clinically asymptomatic 6 months after the surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The differential diagnosis of TOA caused by C. septicum can be difficult, due to the lack of the symptoms. Tissues infected with C. septicum can become necrotic. A combination of early, adequate antibiotic therapy and surgery is the key point of the treatment.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yavuzcan
authors.forename: Mete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cağlar
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dilbaz
authors.forename: Selahattin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumru
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Avcioğlu
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ustün
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D000328:Adult; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D052557:Clostridium septicum; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005184:Fallopian Tube Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D000292:Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / Q000150:complications; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous