Desulfovibrio desulfuricans bacteraemia associated with intracardiac thrombus: a case report

Abstract

Abstract Background Desulfovibrio desulfuricans rarely causes blood infection and is usually associated with intestinal infection. Here, we describe a case of bacteraemia with no clear portal of entry and complicated with a large intracardiac mass. Case presentation A 77-year-old woman was admitted with septic shock and multiorgan failure with hepatic disturbances but no morphologic biliary abnormalities. The echocardiography conducted for the hemodynamic evaluation revealed a large left atrium mass with embolic cerebral complications. She had no history of abdominal infection nor cardiac pathology but bacteraemia was proven with Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, which was effectively treated with piperacillin-tazobactam. She died because of multiorgan failure and refused cardiac surgery. Conclusions Case report of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans bacteraemia complicated by intracardiac thrombus with no abdominal nor respiratory clear history.

Keywords

• Desulfovibrio desulfuricans
• Bacteraemia
• Anaerobic bacterium
• Case report
• Intracardiac thrombus