[Hepatic abscess as first manifestation of pneumococcal invasive disease]

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Hepatology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Pneumococcal invasive disease (PID) is a significant global health concern, contributing to substantial morbidity and mortality.
• Typically, PID originates from an infection of the respiratory tract.
• Diabetes mellitus is a known risk factor for various infections.

Observation:

• A case study involving a patient with diabetes mellitus is presented.
• The patient's initial and sole presentation of invasive disease was a liver abscess.
• Crucially, the patient exhibited no preceding or concurrent respiratory symptoms.

Findings:

• Streptococcus pneumoniae was identified as the causative agent of the liver abscess.
• The patient successfully responded to treatment with percutaneous drainage and systemic antibiotics.
• This case demonstrates a rare, non-respiratory initial manifestation of pneumococcal invasive disease.

Implications:

• Hepatitis abscess should be investigated for Streptococcus pneumoniae, particularly in patients with risk factors like diabetes.
• Clinicians should consider PID in the differential diagnosis of liver abscesses, even in the absence of typical respiratory symptoms.
• This finding broadens the understanding of pneumococcal invasive disease presentations and emphasizes the need for a comprehensive diagnostic approach.