Splenic abscess with Clostridium novyi bacteraemia and sepsis

Splenic abscess is an uncommon entity and usually results in the death of the patient when left undiagnosed. A case is presented where bacteraemia with an anaerobic Gram-positive bacillus was associated with splenic abscess. Despite treatment with splenectomy and antibiotics the patient developed a multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and died. Of particular interest was the isolation of Clostridium novyi type A from the blood in a patient without gas gangrene but with splenic suppuration.