Infected abdominal aortic aneurysm due to Morganella morganii: CT findings

Oh Young Kwon1, Jong Seok Lee, Han Sung Choi

  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Abdominal Imaging
|March 31, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Mycotic aneurysms, rare infections of the aorta, can rapidly grow and rupture. This case highlights a rare instance of an infected abdominal aortic aneurysm caused by Morganella morganii, emphasizing the need for high suspicion and imaging for diagnosis.

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Surgery
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Medical Microbiology

Background:

  • Infected aortic aneurysms (mycotic aneurysms) are rare but life-threatening conditions characterized by arterial dilatation due to infection.
  • Common causative agents include Salmonella, Clostridium, and Staphylococcus species, with Morganella morganii being exceptionally uncommon.

Observation:

  • A 65-year-old male presented with an infected abdominal aortic aneurysm.
  • The causative pathogen identified was Morganella morganii, a rare bacterial agent for this condition.

Findings:

  • Infected abdominal aortic aneurysms exhibit rapid growth and a high risk of rupture.
  • Emergent surgical intervention in these cases is associated with significant mortality.

Implications:

  • Early diagnosis of mycotic aneurysms requires a high index of clinical suspicion.
  • Advanced imaging modalities are crucial for the timely and accurate diagnosis of infected aortic aneurysms.
  • This case underscores the importance of considering rare pathogens like M. morganii in the differential diagnosis of mycotic aneurysms.

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