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A case of necrotizing fasciitis caused by Bifidobacterium breve

Yuriko Takeda1, Koshi Ota1, Ayuka Kondo1

  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Japan.

Idcases
|January 13, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Necrotizing fasciitis, a severe infection, can be caused by Bifidobacterium breve, particularly in individuals with underlying health conditions. This case highlights the importance of identifying this unusual pathogen in compromised hosts for effective treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Bifidobacterium breve is an anaerobic gram-positive bacillus typically found in the infant gut.
  • Infections caused by B. breve are rare, with few reported cases of necrotizing fasciitis.

Observation:

  • A 42-year-old male with type 2 diabetes and obesity presented with rapidly progressing inguinal pain, swelling, and erythema.
  • CT scan revealed extensive gas in the leg, indicative of a severe infection.
  • Blood and abscess cultures identified the causative agent as Bifidobacterium breve via mass spectrometry and 16S rDNA analysis.

Findings:

  • Bifidobacterium breve was confirmed as the cause of necrotizing fasciitis in this patient.
  • The patient had multiple comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes and obesity, classifying him as a compromised host.

Implications:

  • This case underscores that Bifidobacterium breve can cause severe necrotizing fasciitis, especially in immunocompromised or comorbid individuals.
  • Prompt identification and aggressive treatment, including debridement and antibiotics, are crucial for patient recovery.
  • Clinicians should consider unusual pathogens like B. breve in the differential diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis in at-risk populations.
Abstract

Keywords:
B. breve, Bifidobacterium breveBifidobacterium breveCT, computed tomographyMass spectrographNecrotizing fasciitis

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