Hepatic Abscess With Clostridium perfringens Bacteremia Leading to Hemolysis: A Case Report
We describe the case of a 64-year-old male who presented with acute acalculous cholecystitis complicated by the formation of a hepatic abscess. Blood cultures subsequently grew <i>Clostridium perfringens</i>, and culture of the aspirated hepatic abscess fluid confirmed its presence.<i> </i>The clinical course was further complicated by severe intravascular hemolysis, leading to acute renal failure that required temporary hemodialysis. Management included the prompt initiation of broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotic therapy in conjunction with image-guided percutaneous drainage of the hepatic abscess. <i>C. perfringens</i> sepsis is associated with high morbidity and mortality, primarily due to its rapid progression and toxin-mediated hemolysis. This case underscores the importance of early recognition, aggressive antimicrobial therapy, and timely source control to optimize clinical outcomes.
Authors
- Henry Schuitema
- Alan Lucerna (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2640-1649)
- Joel Collins (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8570-4338)
- James Espinosa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5898-4098)
- Katelyn Courtney
Institutions
- Stratford University (US)
- Aria - Jefferson Health (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cureus
- Published
- 2025-05-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.84242
- Primary Topic
- Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00