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Aortic graft infection by Lactobacillus casei: a case report
Y Schoon1, B Schuurman, A G Buiting
1Department of Internal Medicine, TweeSteden Ziekenhuis, Tilburg, Netherlands.
The Netherlands Journal of Medicine
|April 29, 1998
Summary
A Lactobacillus graft infection in an abdominal aortic endoprosthesis relapsed after antibiotic treatment. Surgical graft replacement cured the patient, revealing an aortoenteric fistula as the infection source.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Infectious Diseases
- Medical Microbiology
Background:
- Abdominal aortic endoprosthesis are common treatments for aortic aneurysms.
- Graft infections are serious complications that can lead to significant morbidity and mortality.
Observation:
- A 65-year-old male patient with an abdominal aortic endoprosthesis presented with unexplained fever.
- Blood cultures identified Lactobacillus casei bacteremia, indicating a potential graft infection.
Findings:
- Initial antibiotic therapy for the Lactobacillus graft infection was successful but followed by a relapse.
- Surgical replacement of the infected endoprosthesis ultimately cured the patient.
- An aortoenteric fistula was identified during surgery as the source of the recurrent infection.
Implications:
- Lactobacillus species can cause serious aortic graft infections.
- Recurrent infections may necessitate graft explantation and replacement.
- Aortoenteric fistulas are a critical complication that must be considered in graft infections.