Descending necrotizing mediastinitis caused by retro-pharyngeal Eggerthia catenaformis infection

Eggerthia catenaformis, a non-spore-forming anaerobic Gram-positive bacillus component of the human fecal microbiota has rarely been reported in human diseases. In almost every case described in current literature to date, dental diseases (abscesses, periodontitis, or caries), are the most common source of the infection which extends to the brain, cervical spaces, pulmonary parenchyma, the pleural cavity, the abdominal wall, and the abdominal cavity.

An 82-year-old male Caucasian patient was admitted to our Emergency Department (ED) with a painless, right submandibular mass, dyspnea, and inspiratory stridor. A CT scan of the head, neck, and chest with intravenous contrast material revealed a retrotonsillar fluid collection. Air bubbles and minimal fluid were present from the right sub-mandibular area to the lower mediastinum between the spine, the descending thoracic aorta, and the trachea. The patient underwent surgical treatment and a broad-spectrum antibiotic. The retropharyngeal fluid collection culture showed the presence of Eggerthia catenaformis. After a first period in the Intensive Care Unit, he was admitted to a Step-Down Unit (SDU) where he underwent respiratory weaning, motor rehabilitation, and gradual oral feeding resumption. At discharge, the patient maintained the tracheal cannula as he still had impaired swallowing of solid foods.

Here we report the first case of descending necrotizing mediastinitis in a patient with a retropharyngeal abscess, in the absence of dental diseases.