Neutropenic enterocolitis. Two unusual cases with review of the literature

Cases of neutropenic enterocolitis associated with Clostridium septicum infection have been reported with increasing frequency in the past decade. We report two such cases involving unusual hosts and briefly discuss possible pathogenetic mechanisms such as ischemia, mucosal damage related to chemotherapy and neutropenia, and immunosuppression. One case involved a young man with chronic Epstein-Barr infection who developed extensive gas gangrene of the right side of his trunk and thigh and who died within 12 hours of presentation to the emergency department. Diagnosis was only made at postmortem examination. The second, middle-aged patient was admitted with an acute abdomen shortly after he completed chemotherapy for pleural mesothelioma. A right hemicolectomy was performed, but the patient developed antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis and died. These cases indicate that neutropenic enterocolitis may arise in a variety of underlying conditions and that prompt diagnosis and therapy will be required to salvage more patients with this disorder.