A Line Full of Lessons: A “Sake Lees”-Like Mass Revealing Bacillus cereus Contamination in an Amino Acid Infusion
<i>Bacillus cereus</i> (<i>B. cereus</i>) is a known cause of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) in healthcare settings, with increased risk observed in immunocompromised patients and those receiving amino acid-based parenteral nutrition. This condition is typically identified by local signs at the catheter insertion site and positive blood cultures. We report a case of an elderly hospitalized patient in whom an unusual visual finding, whitish, turbid, "sake-lees"-like crystalline aggregates within the infusion line, contributed to the diagnosis of <i>B. cereus</i>-associated CRBSIs. This case underscores the potential routes of <i>B. cereus</i> contamination in the medical environment and highlights the importance of rigorous infection control practices during infusion preparation and catheter-related procedures for hospitalized patients.
Authors
- Hajime Tsuboi
- Fumio Iwane
- Shu Toda
Institutions
- Memorial Hospital (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cureus
- Published
- 2026-01-05
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.100819
- Primary Topic
- Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00