Fatal Clostridium sordellii ischio-rectal abscess with septicaemia complicating ultrasound-guided transrectal prostate biopsy

J Infect. 1999 Mar;38(2):128-9. doi: 10.1016/s0163-4453(99)90083-x.

Abstract

Clostridium sordellii is a Gram-positive spore-forming anaerobic bacillus rarely encountered in human infection. A case of C. sordellii ischio-rectal abscess with rapidly fatal septicaemia is described which complicated ultrasound-guided transrectal biopsy of the prostate, despite ciprofloxacin prophylaxis. Neither C. sordellii ischio-rectal abscess nor ischio-rectal abscess complicating transrectal biopsy have been reported previously. Judging from our experience and the reviewed literature, the addition of prophylactic anti-anaerobe drugs should be strongly considered until an optimal prophylactic regimen will be defined by randomized controlled trials.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abscess / complications*
  • Abscess / drug therapy
  • Abscess / microbiology
  • Adenocarcinoma / complications*
  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnosis
  • Aged
  • Ampicillin / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Infective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacteremia / complications
  • Bacteremia / drug therapy
  • Biopsy / adverse effects
  • Ciprofloxacin / therapeutic use
  • Clostridium / pathogenicity*
  • Clostridium Infections / complications*
  • Clostridium Infections / therapy
  • Diuretics / therapeutic use
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Furosemide / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Ischium* / pathology
  • Male
  • Metronidazole / therapeutic use
  • Penicillins / therapeutic use
  • Prostate / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / complications*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Rectal Diseases / complications*
  • Rectal Diseases / drug therapy
  • Rectal Diseases / microbiology
  • Rectum / diagnostic imaging
  • Rectum / pathology
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Diuretics
  • Penicillins
  • Metronidazole
  • Ciprofloxacin
  • Ampicillin
  • Furosemide