Summary
The isolation ofFrancisella tularensis from human blood is extremely rare in Europe. We here describe two cases of septicemia caused byF. tularensis biovarpalaearctica, where the causative bacterium was isolated from blood. One of our patients had ingested contaminated water; the other was probably infected by inhalation of contaminated dust. The isolation of the causative organism was essential for initiating the appropriate antibiotic treatment, which led to a rapid improvement. Since the responsive agent rarely is isolated from tularemia patients, blood cultures should be drawn more often in order to improve the diagnostic procedures.
Zusammenfassung
In Europa wurdeFrancisella tularensis nur selten aus menschlichem Blut isoliert. Wir beschreiben hier zwei Fälle von Sepsis, die durchF. tularensis biovarpalaearctica verursacht waren, und bei denen es uns gelungen ist, die krankheitserregenden Bakterien zu züchten. Der eine Patient litt an durch Wasser übertragener Tularämie, während der andere wahrscheinlich durch Inhalation von kontaminiertem Staub infiziert worden ist. Die Anzüchtung des kausalen Erregers war notwendig, um die richtige antibiotische Behandlung einleiten zu können, die dann zu einer schnellen Besserung der Patienten führte. Obwohl bei Tularämie-Patienten die Erregeranzucht selten erfolgt, sollte man häufiger Blutkulturen entnehmen, um die Diagnose früher stellen zu können.
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Hoel, T., Scheel, O., Sandvik, T. et al. Water- and airborne francisella tularensis biovar palaearctica isolated from human blood. Infection 19, 348–350 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01645366
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01645366