Thrombotic Microangiopathy Secondary to Capnocytophaga Sepsis: A Case Report

Capnocytophaga species have been shown to cause a wide range of severe infections that can progress to severe sepsis. They also present a diagnostic challenge due to multiple factors, including non-specific symptoms and difficulty in microbiological detection due to slow growth. Capnocytophaga infection has been shown to be a potential trigger for thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) through complement activation and endothelial injury that can trigger microthrombi formation. This presentation can sometimes mimic primary thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Often, the combination of difficulty in establishing the underlying mechanism due to the unavailability of specialized diagnostic tests and rapid clinical deterioration following infection can lead to poor clinical outcomes. This is why early recognition and being able to differentiate between different causes of TMA is vital to enable clinicians to provide the correct treatment promptly. We present a case of TMA secondary to Capnocytophaga infection, treated solely with antimicrobial therapy.