Necrotizing Clostridium subterminale infection with an odontogenic origin

• Authors: Alvaro Velasquez, Emory University; Charles Grodzin, Emory University; EB Henderson, Emory University Hospital; S Smith-Farmer, Emory Healthcare; S Gebreyonas, Emory Healthcare
• Journal Title: IDCases
• Volume: Volume 27
• Publisher: Elsevier Inc | 2022-01-01, Pages e01416-e01416
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.idcr.2022.e01416
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Health Care Management; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery
• Keywords: Anaerobic Resistance; Clostridium; Clostridium subterminale; Necrotizing fasciitis; Odontogenic infection; Oral infection

Abstract

Clostridium subterminale is an anaerobic spore-forming bacterium rarely isolated in human infections. This case study presents a necrotizing C. subterminale infection stemming from a dental abscess that progressed into sepsis, a small pericardial effusion, moderate bilateral pulmonary effusions, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. The management of the infection, along with other relevant cases is discussed.