Clostridium perfringens sepsis after comprehensive multicourse treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: A case report and review
Yujuan Zhang,
Yu Zhu,
Yaping Han,
Liyan Yang,
Jingzhi Wang,
Wei Cui
Affiliations
Yujuan Zhang
Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
Yu Zhu
Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
Yaping Han
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
Liyan Yang
Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
Jingzhi Wang
Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
Wei Cui
Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Corresponding author. Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
Introduction: Clostridium perfringens sepsis is a rare but serious clinical syndrome that is typically triggered by gastrointestinal disorders. We present a case of bloodstream infection caused by Clostridium perfringens in a liver cancer patient after comprehensive multicourse treatment. Case presentations: The patient, a 68-year-old male, experienced nausea, decreased appetite, and abdominal distension on the 15th day after receiving comprehensive multicourse treatment and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). During admission, he developed fever, and blood culture results confirmed the presence of Clostridium perfringens. The patient was discharged with improved symptoms. Conclusion: Our findings underscore the rarity of Clostridium perfringens sepsis. For liver cancer patients, particularly those who have undergone TACE or radiofrequency ablation and who experience post treatment fever, vigilance for Clostridium perfringens bloodstream infection is crucial. Timely diagnostic assessments and proactive treatment can significantly enhance the survival prospects of these patients.
