Edwardsiella tarda septicemia complicating acute leukemia

We describe here an unusual case of Edwardsiella tarda septicemia preceded by acute gastroenteritis in a patient with acute leukemia in complete remission receiving maintenance chemotherapy. She also had ulcerated rectal cancer with bleeding, which was thought to serve as the portal of entry into the blood stream. She was successfully treated with cefmetazole and gentamicin in combination. However, the concomitant resolution of chemotherapy-induced granulocytopenia may have had a favorable effect as well.