Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Mycotic aneurysm caused by Clostridium septicum in a patient with colorectal cancer

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Infection Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A mycotic aneurysm caused by a Clostridium septicum is a rare infection and has a strong association with colorectal cancer. If left untreated, the mortality rate of the first 24 h is high. This case report discusses the optimal treatment of emergency surgery combined with antibiotic treatment to improve survival. We present a fatal case of a 71-year-old male with abscedation of a caecal carcinoma who shortly after developed a mycotic aneurysm of the infrarenal aorta as a result of a C. septicum infection.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bodey GP, Rodriguez S, Fainstein V, Elting LS. Clostridial bacteremia in cancer patients. A 12-year experience. Cancer. 1991;67:1928–42.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Smith-Slatas CL, Bourque M, Salazar JC. Clostridium septicum infections in children: a case report and review of the literature. Pediatrics. 2006;117:796–805.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Kopliku FA, Schubert AM, Mogle J, Schloss PD, Young VB, Aronoff DM. Low prevalence of Clostridium septicum fecal carriage in an adult population. Anaerobe. 2015;32:34–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Kennedy CL, Krejany EO, Young LF, O’Connor JR, Awad MM, Boyd RL, et al. The alpha-toxin of Clostridium septicum is essential for virulence. Mol Microbiol. 2005;57:1357–66.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Kennedy CL, Lyras D, Cordner LM, Melton-Witt J, Emmins JJ, Tweten RK, et al. Pore-forming activity of alpha-toxin is essential for Clostridium septicum-mediated myonecrosis. Infect Immun. 2009;77:943–51.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Schaaf RE, Jacobs N, Kelvin FM, Gallis HA, Akwari O, Thompson WM. Clostridium septicum infection associated with colonic carcinoma and hematologic abnormality. Radiology. 1980;137:625–27.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Seder CW, Kramer M, Long G, Uzieblo MR, Shanley CJ, Bove P. Clostridium septicum aortitis: report of two cases and review of the literature. J Vasc Surg. 2009;49:1304–09.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Jendrzejewski JW, Jones SR, Newcombe RL, Gilbert DN. Nontraumatic clostridial myonecrosis. Am J Med. 1978;65:542–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Ito F, Inokuchi R, Matsumoto A, Kumada Y, Yokoyama H, Ishida T, et al. Presence of periaortic gas in Clostridium septicum-infected aortic aneurysm aids in early diagnosis: a case report and systematic review of the literature. J Med Case Rep. 2017. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-017-1422-0.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Kornbluth AA, Danzig JB, Bernstein LH. Clostridium septicum infection and associated malignancy. Report of 2 cases and review of the literature. Medicine (Baltim). 1989;68:30–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Alimi Y, Sosin M, Borsinger TM, et al. Implications of Clostridium septicum in vascular surgery: a case report and outcomes literature review. Ann Vasc Surg. 2017 Aug;43:314.e5–314.e11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Müller BT, Wegener OR, Grabitz K, Pillny M, Thomas L, Sandmann W, et al. Mycotic aneurysms of the thoracic and abdominal aorta and iliac arteries: experience with anatomic and extraanatomic repair in 33 cases. J Vasc Surg. 2001;33:106–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Ting AC, Cheng SW, Ho P, Poon JT, Tsu JH. Surgical treatment of infected aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms of the thoracic and abdominal aorta. Am J Surg. 2005;189:150–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Hernandez-Richter T, Schardey HM, Wittmann F, Mayr S, Schmitt-Sody M, Blasenbreu S, et al. Rifampin and Triclosan but not silver is effective in preventing bacterial infection of vascular dacron graft material. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2003;26:550–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Young RM, Cherry KJ Jr, Davis PM, Gloviczki P, Bower TC, Panneton JM, et al. The results of in situ prosthetic replacement for infected aortic grafts. Am J Surg. 1999;178:136–40.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Weis-Muller BT, Rascanu C, Sagban A, Grabitz K, Godehardt E, Sandmann W. Single-center experience with open surgical treatment of 36 infected aneurysms of the thoracic, thoracoabdominal, and abdominal aorta. Ann Vasc Surg. 2011;25:1020–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Stevens DL, Aldape MJ, Bryant AE. Life-threatening clostridial infections. Anaerobe. 2012;18(2):254–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Stevens DL, Laine BM, Mitten JE. Comparison of single and combination antimicrobial agents for prevention of experimental gas gangrene caused by Clostridium perfringens. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1987;31:312–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Stevens DL, Maier KA, Mitten JE. Effect of antibiotics on toxin production and viability of Clostridium perfringens. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1987;31:213–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. Stevens DL, Bryant AE, Hackett SP. Antibiotic effects on bacterial viability, toxin production, and host response. Clin Infect Dis. 1995;20:154–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Hollier LH, Money SR, Creely B, Bower TC, Kazmier FJ. Direct replacement of mycotic thoracoabdominal aneurysms. J Vasc Surg. 1993;18:477–84.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Chan FY, Crawford ES, Coselli JS, Safi HJ, Williams TW Jr. In situ prosthetic graft replacement for mycotic aneurysm of the aorta. Ann Thorac Surg. 1989;47:193–203.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Winesh Ramphal.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ramphal, W., Raaijmakers, N.J., van der Klift, M. et al. Mycotic aneurysm caused by Clostridium septicum in a patient with colorectal cancer. Infection 46, 711–716 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-018-1155-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-018-1155-z

Keywords

Navigation