A case of alcohol-related emphysematous cystitis

Abstract

Emphysematous cystitis (EC) is a very rare urinary tract infectious disease that can be fatal if not treated. In general, it frequently occurs in diabetic women and is thought to be associated with gas-producing bacteria. Type 2 diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression, drugs (mostly steroids), neurogenic bladder and instrumentation are the major risk factors of this type of infection. We present a case of emphysematous cystitis in a 53-year-old male, in which the patient does not have any classical risk factors associated with EC other than alcohol consumption. To the best of our knowledge, the only case in the literature where this type of infection develops without a classical risk factor and negative urine culture. It is also one of the rare EC cases that may be associated with alcohol use.