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Clostridium septicum infection in children with cyclic neutropenia
G Bar-Joseph1, M Halberthal, Y Sweed
1Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Rambam Medical Center, B. Rappaport School of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel.
Insights
Severe Clostridium septicum infection is rare in children but deadly. This study highlights three cases in children with cyclic neutropenia, emphasizing the need for rapid treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Hematology
Background:
- Atraumatic Clostridium septicum infection is a rare but severe condition in children.
- While often linked to gastrointestinal malignancy in adults, pediatric cases are predominantly associated with neutropenia.
- Previous reports focused on neutropenia from chemotherapy or cyclic neutropenia, with no cases in other congenital severe neutropenia forms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report on three pediatric cases of severe Clostridium septicum infection.
- To discuss potential causative factors for this infection in children with cyclic neutropenia.
- To underscore the importance of prompt and aggressive treatment for Clostridium septicum infections in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Case series description of three pediatric patients.
- Clinical data review and analysis.
- Literature review on Clostridium septicum infections in children.
Main Results:
- Three children with cyclic neutropenia developed severe Clostridium septicum infection.
- The study contributes to understanding this rare infection in a specific pediatric neutropenic population.
- Highlights the association between cyclic neutropenia and severe Clostridium septicum infection.
Conclusions:
- Severe Clostridium septicum infection can occur in children with cyclic neutropenia.
- Prompt and aggressive treatment is crucial for managing this life-threatening condition in pediatric cases.
- Further research may elucidate specific risk factors and optimal management strategies.
Abstract:
Atraumatic Clostridium septicum infection is rare in infancy and childhood and is associated with a high mortality rate. Although in adults it has been reported to occur mainly in patients with gastrointestinal malignancy, pediatric cases were always associated with neutropenia. About 70% of the cases were described in children with neutropenia caused by chemotherapy and 30% were found in children with cyclic neutropenia. No case was described in children with other forms of congenital severe neutropenia. We describe three children with cyclic neutropenia and severe Clostridium septicum infection, discuss the various possibilities of causation, and the need for prompt and aggressive treatment of this serious condition.