Sepsis due toErysipelothrix rhusiopathiaein a Patient with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Associated with Bronchopneumonia due to PSeudomonas aeruginosaAndEscherichia coli: A Case Report

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The present report describes a case of sepsis due toErysipelothrix rhusiopathiaein a patient with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia with no animal exposure, associated with concomitant bronchopneumonia due toPseudomonas aeruginosaandEscherichia coli.CASE PRESENTATION: A 54-year-old Caucasian man presented to an emergency room with a three-day history of chest pain, fever, cough with purulent sputum, chills and dyspnea. The patient had associated erythematous papules on the chest and enlarged axillary, submandibular, pectoral and supraclavicular lymph nodes, which regressed under treatment with penicillin. The patient was found to have sepsis without endocarditis caused byE rhusiopathiae, associated with bronchopneumonia that was induced by a double Gram-negative infection.CONCLUSIONS: The underlying-B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia may have favoured the development of bacteremia due toE rhusiopathiae, which occurred subsequent to glossitis in an immunocompromised host being treated with methylprednisolone and cladribine.