Atopobium minutum: An uncommon culprit of severe bacteremia and empyema: A case report and literature review

Paul J. Karroum, MD; Inderbir Padda, MD, MPH; Sophia Taik, MD; Gianpaolo Piccione, DO; Daniel Fabian, MD; Anusha Kavarthapu, MD; Bhuvana Tantry, MD; Mahmoud Mahmoud, MD; Sandra Vandenborn, MD; Juliana Otiwaah, MD; Keith Diaz, MD

Radiology Case Reports (Sep 2024)

Atopobium minutum: An uncommon culprit of severe bacteremia and empyema: A case report and literature review

Paul J. Karroum, MD,
Inderbir Padda, MD, MPH,
Sophia Taik, MD,
Gianpaolo Piccione, DO,
Daniel Fabian, MD,
Anusha Kavarthapu, MD,
Bhuvana Tantry, MD,
Mahmoud Mahmoud, MD,
Sandra Vandenborn, MD,
Juliana Otiwaah, MD,
Keith Diaz, MD

Affiliations

Paul J. Karroum, MD: Department of Internal Medicine, Richmond University Medical Center/Mount Sinai, Staten Island, NY, USA
Inderbir Padda, MD, MPH: Department of Internal Medicine, Richmond University Medical Center/Mount Sinai, Staten Island, NY, USA; Corresponding author: Inderbir Padda, MD, MPH, Department of Internal Medicine, Richmond University Medical Center/Mount Sinai, Staten Island, NY, USA.
Sophia Taik, MD: Department of Internal Medicine, Richmond University Medical Center/Mount Sinai, Staten Island, NY, USA
Gianpaolo Piccione, DO: Department of Internal Medicine, Richmond University Medical Center/Mount Sinai, Staten Island, NY, USA
Daniel Fabian, MD: Department of Internal Medicine, Richmond University Medical Center/Mount Sinai, Staten Island, NY, USA
Anusha Kavarthapu, MD: Department of Internal Medicine, Richmond University Medical Center/Mount Sinai, Staten Island, NY, USA
Bhuvana Tantry, MD: Department of Internal Medicine, Richmond University Medical Center/Mount Sinai, Staten Island, NY, USA
Mahmoud Mahmoud, MD: Department of Radiology, Richmond University Medical Center/Mount Sinai, Staten Island, NY, USA
Sandra Vandenborn, MD: School of Medicine, St. George's University, True Blue, Grenada
Juliana Otiwaah, MD: School of Medicine, St. George's University, True Blue, Grenada
Keith Diaz, MD: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Richmond University Medical Center/Mount Sinai, Staten Island, NY, USA

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 19, no. 9
pp. 3915 – 3921

Abstract

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Atopobium minutum (A. minutum) has rarely been documented in human infections. However, this report describes a case involving a 52-year-old woman who developed empyema and lung collapse due to A. minutum. She initially presented to the emergency department with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Her condition quickly declined within the first day of arrival, leading to respiratory failure and requiring intubation and ICU-level care. Despite receiving intensive antibiotic treatment, the patient needed prolonged intubation and a tracheostomy. Initial cultures indicated Streptococcus intermedius and Lactobacillus minutus, but final culture results identified A. minutum as the cause. This case highlights the difficulty in diagnosing A. minutum infections, often necessitating advanced DNA sequencing, and raises concerns about potential multidrug resistance. It highlights the importance of prompt identification of the pathogen by laboratories to allow for effective treatment of these rare infections.

Published in Radiology Case Reports

ISSN: 1930-0433 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General): Medical physics. Medical radiology. Nuclear medicine
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/radiology-case-reports

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Abstract

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