Polymicrobial bacteremia after treatment of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization: A case report

Bacteremia caused by polymicrobial infections are rare but dangerous. We report a case of hepatic abscess combined with polymicrobial bacteremia in a 49-year-old male patient after surgery and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE).

The patient was admitted to hospital with metastatic liver cancer for periodic chemotherapy and developed a high fever and tenderness to the liver following surgery and TACE.

Hepatic abscess combined with polymicrobial bacteremia.

The clinician formulated a therapy in accordance with the drug susceptibility test and the empirical drug use for anaerobic bacteria. A comprehensive treatment plan was adopted, on the basis of the combination of nitrazole and imipenem as anti-infection drugs as well as continuous abscess drainage.

After comprehensive therapy, the patient was ultimately discharged without any residual symptoms.

Bloodstream infection caused by multiple bacteria increases the difficulty of anti-infection treatments, leading to poor treatment outcome and high mortality. Therefore, a fast and accurate diagnosis of polymicrobial bacteremia is key for initiation of an effective antimicrobial treatment. Additionally, pre-operative prophylactic antibiotics are advisable when patients have a history of abdominal surgery and are immune-compromised.