IDCases (Jan 2020)

Septic shock caused by Gardnerella vaginalis and Atopobium vaginae

  • Pauline Taillandier,
  • Camille Roingeard,
  • Jérémy Violette,
  • Franck-Marie Leclère,
  • Sébastien Faivre

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 21
p. e00876

Abstract

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Although bacterial vaginosis is the most common and benign vaginal infection worldwide, some cases of severe acute infections have been described in the literature. We report the case of a 57-year-old French female who developed a life-threatening postoperative peritonitis after a total hysterectomy with adnexectomy in the context of the removal of leiomyosarcoma. The microbiological analysis of the peritoneal fluid identified Gardnerella vaginalis and Atobopium vaginae. The final diagnosis was a septic shock induced by an early onset peritonitis caused by Gardnerella vaginalis and Atobopium vaginae. The normal flora of the genital area could lead to a serious life threatening postoperative infection and should always be in the differential diagnosis.

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