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Abstract Details

Nontraumatic Spontaneous Pneumocephalus in Clostridium Septicum Central Nervous System Infection – A Case Report
Infectious Disease
P5 - Poster Session 5 (5:30 PM-6:30 PM)
4-003
To describe a case of suspected meningoencephalitis/cerebritis caused by Clostridium septicum sepsis which manifested with nontraumatic spontaneous pneumocephalus.
Although Clostridium septicum is a very rare cause of meningoencephalitis/cerebritis, the mortality rate in patients with Clostridium septicum central nervous system infection is very high. Recent literature review demonstrated the association between Clostridium septicum and gastrointestinal disease or malignancy. According to its gas-forming ability, nontraumatic spontaneous pneumocephalus is rarely reported but should be recognized as a cue to identify this pathogen.
A case report

A case of 54 year-old male with a past medical history of metastatic rectal adenocarcinoma. He presented with progressively worsening left leg pain for several months. The initial investigations revealed signs of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (heart rate 113/min, leucocytes 34.19 x 10³/ul) and elevated inflammatory parameter (procalcitonin 15.16 ng/ml). Even with the empirical piperacillin-tazobactam and vancomycin treatment, he rapidly progressed to severe sepsis. After 8 hours of admission, his mental status declined. Without a history of recent head trauma, cranial computed tomography showed minimal pneumocephalus in the lateral ventricles and cisterns. Because of hemodynamic instability, lumbar puncture and cranial magnetic resonance imaging could not be performed. Despite appropriate treatment for septic shock with fluid resuscitation, vasopressors and antibiotics, he developed cardiac arrest. Unfortunately, cardiopulmonary resuscitation was unsuccessful. He died 14 hours after admission. Two samples of blood culture confirmed Clostridium septicum septicemia which raised the diagnosis of meningoencephalitis and pneumocephalus caused by this organism.

Nontraumatic spontaneous pneumocephalus could be the important cue to identify Clostridium septicum as a causative organism in patients with sepsis. An awareness and high index of suspicion in this finding can prompt to an early diagnosis, appropriate treatment and lower fatal outcome. Furthermore, the survivors of this infection should be evaluated for an occult gastrointestinal disease or malignancy as its route of entry.
Authors/Disclosures
Amputch Karukote, MD
PRESENTER
Dr. Karukote has nothing to disclose.
Smathorn Thakolwiboon, MD (Mayo Clinic Health System) Dr. Thakolwiboon has nothing to disclose.
GyeongMo Sohn, MD (Inje University – Haeundae Paik Hospital) Dr. Sohn has nothing to disclose.