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Pancytopenia associated with Weissella confusa septicemia
Canan Akkus1, Abdulhamid Arslan1
1Department of Internal Medicine, Ankara Etlik City Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye.
Introduction:
Weissella spp. are facultative gram-positive bacteria. They are also part of the human microbiota and can cause opportunistic infections. There are very few case reports in the literature describing bacteremia caused by W. confusa.
Case Presentation:
A 74-year-old male patient presented to the Internal Medicine Department of Ankara Etlik City Hospital with complaints of fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting. Laboratory tests revealed pancytopenia. Etiological investigation identified W. confusa in blood cultures using MALDI-TOF MS, and other potential causes of pancytopenia were excluded. The patient had chronic kidney disease and was undergoing hemodialysis three times a week.
Conclusions:
W. confusa should be considered among opportunistic pathogens, especially in patients with end-stage renal disease. This case is presented as a rare clinical report due to the association of pancytopenia with W. confusa septicemia.
Insights
Weissella confusa bacteremia is a rare opportunistic infection. This case highlights the association between W. confusa septicemia and pancytopenia in a patient with end-stage renal disease.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Nephrology
Background:
- Weissella spp. are facultative gram-positive bacteria found in human microbiota.
- These bacteria can cause opportunistic infections, with limited case reports on W. confusa bacteremia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a rare case of W. confusa septicemia.
- To highlight the association between W. confusa and pancytopenia in an end-stage renal disease patient.
Main Methods:
- A case presentation of a 74-year-old male with fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting.
- Laboratory investigations revealed pancytopenia.
- W. confusa was identified in blood cultures using MALDI-TOF MS, with other causes excluded.
Main Results:
- The patient presented with symptoms of infection and pancytopenia.
- W. confusa was identified as the causative agent of septicemia.
- The patient had underlying chronic kidney disease and was on hemodialysis.
Conclusions:
- W. confusa should be recognized as an opportunistic pathogen.
- Particularly consider W. confusa in patients with end-stage renal disease.
- This case emphasizes the rare link between W. confusa septicemia and pancytopenia.
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