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Postsurgical osteomyelitis caused by Enterobacter sakazakii in a healthy young man
1Infectious Disease Unit, University of Florence School of Medicine, Florence, Italy. giampaolo.corti@unifi.it
Insights
Enterobacter sakazakii causes severe infections in newborns. This report details a rare case of femur osteomyelitis caused by this bacterium in a young, healthy adult, highlighting its potential in diverse patient groups.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Bacterial Pathogenesis
Background:
- Enterobacter sakazakii is a Gram-negative bacterium known for causing severe invasive infections like meningitis and sepsis, primarily in neonates.
- While E. sakazakii infections are common in infants, they are rare in adults, typically occurring in immunocompromised individuals or those with pre-existing conditions.
- Osteomyelitis, a bone infection, is an infrequent manifestation of E. sakazakii, with only one prior case reported in the foot.
Observation:
- This study presents a confirmed case of postsurgical osteomyelitis affecting the femur.
- The infection was caused by Enterobacter sakazakii.
- The affected individual was a young, otherwise healthy male.
Findings:
- Enterobacter sakazakii can cause osteomyelitis in healthy young adults following surgery.
- This case expands the known spectrum of E. sakazakii infections beyond the typical neonatal population.
- Postsurgical complications can present with rare bacterial pathogens.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider Enterobacter sakazakii in the differential diagnosis of postsurgical bone infections, even in seemingly healthy young adults.
- Further research is needed to understand the risk factors and optimal treatment strategies for E. sakazakii infections in non-neonatal populations.
- This case underscores the importance of considering a broader range of pathogens in postsurgical infections, irrespective of patient age or apparent health status.
Abstract:
Enterobacter sakazakii, a Gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium, is a rare cause of invasive infections (meningitis, sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis) with high death rates (40-80%), primarily in newborns. In contrast to the high number of cases in newborns, infants and children, there are only a few reported cases of E. sakazakii infections in adults, generally in subjects with pre-existing conditions such as neoplasms, and just one osteomyelitis of the foot. We report a confirmed case of postsurgical osteomyelitis of the femur caused by E. sakazakii in a young otherwise healthy man.