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Volume 17, Number 1—January 2011
Letter

Clostridium sphenoides Bloodstream Infection in Man

Theodoros KelesidisComments to Author  and Sotirios Tsiodras
Author affiliations: Author affiliations: David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA (T. Kelesidis); University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece (S. Tsiodras)

Main Article

Table

Descriptions of cases of infection with Clostridium sphenoides*

Authors, year, and reference Country Patient age, y/ sex Underlying conditions/
risk factors Signs and symptoms Microbiologic findings Treatment Outcome
Sullivan et al., 1980 (2)
Canada
39/F
None. Ate Chinese food 8 h before onset of symptoms
Severe abdominal
cramps and diarrhea
C. sphenoides isolated from stool culture. Susceptibility testing to antimicrobial drugs not reported
No antimicrobial drugs given
Spontaneous recovery within 96 h of onset of illness
Isenberg et al., 1975 (3)
USA
13/M
None. Trauma at the area of osteomyelitis 1 y before diagnosis
Osteomyelitis
C. sphenoides isolated from bone culture. Sensitive to penicillins, cephalosporins, chloramphenicol, tetracyclines, macrolides; resistant to aminoglycosides, polymyxins
Phenethicillin 2 g IV daily for 3 d, followed by 1 g IV daily for 3 mo
Recovered. No evidence of disease clinically or radiologically after 3 y of follow up
Felitti, 1970 (4) USA 6/F Chronic neutropenia, lifelong history of recurrent attacks of otitis media, oral ulcers, periodontal abscesses, chronic gingivitis Fever, abdominal
cramps, occasional vomiting, peritonitis C. sphenoides isolated from the peritoneum. Blood cultures negative. Susceptibility testing to antimicrobial drugs not reported No antimicrobial drugs given Died

*IV, intravenously.

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References
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  3. Isenberg  HD, Lavine  LS, Painter  BG, Rubins  WH, Berkman  JI. Primary osteomyelitis due to an anaerobic microorganism. Am J Clin Pathol. 1975;64:3858.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  4. Felitti  VJ. Primary invasion by Clostridium sphenoides in a patient with periodic neutropenia. Calif Med. 1970;113:768.PubMedGoogle Scholar
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Page updated: July 08, 2011
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