Yersinia enterocolitica sepsis in an adolescent with Cooley's anemia

Human infections due to Yersinia enterocolitica have been reported worldwide, predominantly in Europe. However, there have been few reports of Yersinia enterocolitica infection in Taiwan. We report a case of Y. enterocolitica sepsis in a 15-year-old Taiwanese girl with Cooley's anemia and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. She presented at admission with fever, shock and consciousness disturbance. She had symptoms of abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea for three days before admission. Blood pressure stabilized after intravenous normal saline rescue. Blood culture yielded Y. enterocolitica 2 days later and ceftriaxone was administered according to the results of sensitivity tests. She recovered well after a course of antibiotic treatment. Though Y. enterocolitica sepsis is rare in Taiwan, clinicians should be aware of its tendency to develop in patients with Cooley's anemia, fever and enterocolitis and that its clinical course may include sepsis leading to shock.