Liver abscess due to clostridium septicum. A case report and review of the literature

Hepatogastroenterology. 2005 Sep-Oct;52(65):1557-8.

Abstract

The onset of liver abscess due to Clostridium septicum -an anaerobic gram-positive bacillus- is a rare condition, generally arising in cancer patients. The radiological picture is that of gas-containing pyogenic abscess, that predominates within preexisting liver metastases. We report a case of a 50-year-old patient with metastatic colon cancer who was referred with multiple Clostridium septicum liver abscesses. The patient underwent parenteral antibiotherapy as well as transcutaneous drainage of the largest liver abscess. However the outcome was unfavorable in a clinical picture of liver failure that was likely due to disease progression rather than sepsis. Clostridium septicum liver abscess is a life-threatening condition that occurs in fragile patients, mostly with metastatic cancers. A review of the reported cases is presented and treatment options are discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Clostridium Infections / drug therapy
  • Clostridium Infections / epidemiology
  • Colonic Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Comorbidity
  • Disease Progression
  • Drainage
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liver Abscess / diagnostic imaging
  • Liver Abscess / microbiology*
  • Liver Abscess / therapy
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Liver Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Liver Neoplasms / microbiology*
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Middle Aged
  • Superinfection / microbiology*
  • Superinfection / therapy
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed