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[Hafnia alvei bacteremia with liver and muscle abscess: a case report]

C Pulcini1, S Roth, E Bernard

  • 1Service de maladies infectieuses et tropicales Hôpital de l'Archet 1 (06) Nice.

Presse Medicale (Paris, France : 1983)
|July 24, 2003
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Hafnia alvei, typically a gut commensal, can cause severe extra-intestinal infections in susceptible adults, such as this post-surgery patient. Prompt fluoroquinolone treatment led to a favorable outcome, highlighting the need to define its pathogenic role.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Case Studies

Background:

  • Hafnia alvei is a common gut bacterium, primarily known for causing pediatric gastroenteritis.
  • In adults, H. alvei infections are rare and typically occur in immunocompromised or susceptible individuals with underlying conditions.
  • This organism is generally considered to have low pathogenicity in humans.

Observation:

  • A 69-year-old male patient, recently operated for a gastric stromal tumor, presented with bacteremia.
  • The patient developed concurrent liver and right iliac muscle abscesses.
  • The clinical presentation indicated a severe extra-intestinal infection.

Findings:

  • Hafnia alvei bacteremia was diagnosed in the patient.
  • Abscess formation in the liver and iliac muscle was observed.
  • A 60-day course of fluoroquinolone therapy resulted in a positive clinical response.

Implications:

  • This case challenges the perception of H. alvei as a non-pathogenic organism.
  • Severe community-acquired and nosocomial infections due to H. alvei are increasingly reported.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the pathogenic potential of H. alvei in human disease.

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