Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 17, 2026
Cefoperazone-treated Mouse Model of Clinically-relevant Clostridium difficile Strain R20291
Published on: December 10, 2016
Clostridium perfringens Bacteremia Secondary to Stercoral Colitis in a Patient With Advanced Parkinson's Disease: A
Nidhay Prakashkar1, Jaskaran Singh2, Shreya Muralidharan3
1Internal Medicine, B. J. Medical College, Ahmedabad, IND.
Abstract:
Clostridium perfringens infections are often associated with high mortality and typically result from soft tissue infections. Stercoral colitis, a complication of fecal infection, is more frequently linked to gram-negative bacteremia. We present a rare case of C. perfringens bacteremia caused by stercoral colitis. A 62-year-old woman with advanced Parkinson's disease, dementia, and immobility presented with altered mental status. Stroke was ruled out. Blood cultures grew C. perfringens without signs of soft tissue infection. A CT of the abdomen showed stercoral colitis with fecal impaction. She was treated with a seven-day course of intravenous metronidazole and an aggressive bowel regimen. She remained hemodynamically stable and was discharged in stable condition for outpatient follow-up. This case highlights stercoral colitis as a potential source of C. perfringens bacteremia even without perforation or soft tissue involvement. Early antibiotics, bowel decompression, and nutritional support can improve outcomes in high-risk patients.
Insights
This case report details a rare instance of Clostridium perfringens bacteremia originating from stercoral colitis. It emphasizes stercoral colitis as a potential, albeit uncommon, source of C. perfringens bacteremia.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Gastroenterology
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Clostridium perfringens infections typically arise from soft tissue infections and carry a high mortality rate.
- Stercoral colitis, a complication of fecal impaction, is commonly associated with gram-negative bacteremia, not C. perfringens.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Parkinson's Disease: Treatment
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of...
01:29Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by...
01:29Chronic Pancreatitis II: Collaborative Care
Assessment:
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
01:27Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...