Maximilian Kaiser1,2, Meike Weis3, Katharina Kehr4, Verena Varnholt5, Horst Schroten1, Tobias Tenenbaum1. 1. Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University Children's Hospital Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany. 2. Pediatric Surgery, University Children's Hospital Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany. 3. Clinic of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany. 4. Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany. 5. Clinic of Neonatology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Dialister pneumosintes (D. pneumosintes) is known to cause dental, periodontal or sinus infections. To date, the pathogen has only been described in a small number of cases with a severe infection. CASE REPORT: We describe the clinical case of a 13-year-old, obese female patient that presented with acute respiratory failure and sepsis. A CT-scan showed extensive bilateral patchy areas, subpleural and peribronchovascular consolidations with surrounding ground-glass opacity, extensive consolidations in the lower lobes of both lungs matching to a severe pneumonia and clinically emerging acute respiratory distress syndrome. Moreover, it showed extensive sinusitis of the right sinus frontalis, maxillaris and right cellulae ethmoidales. D. pneumosintes was isolated from an anaerobic blood culture obtained at admission. The antibiotic treatment included piperacillin/tazobactam and oral switch to ampicillin/sulbactam plus ciprofloxacin. CONCLUSIONS: We describe the first adolescent with severe systemic D. pneumosintes infection. Since the pathogen is difficult to culture the systemic virulence remains unclear. This work aims to sensitize health care specialists to consider D. pneumosintes infection in patients with periodontal or sinusal infection.
BACKGROUND:Dialister pneumosintes (D. pneumosintes) is known to cause dental, periodontal or sinus infections. To date, the pathogen has only been described in a small number of cases with a severe infection. CASE REPORT: We describe the clinical case of a 13-year-old, obese female patient that presented with acute respiratory failure and sepsis. A CT-scan showed extensive bilateral patchy areas, subpleural and peribronchovascular consolidations with surrounding ground-glass opacity, extensive consolidations in the lower lobes of both lungs matching to a severe pneumonia and clinically emerging acute respiratory distress syndrome. Moreover, it showed extensive sinusitis of the right sinus frontalis, maxillaris and right cellulae ethmoidales. D. pneumosintes was isolated from an anaerobic blood culture obtained at admission. The antibiotic treatment included piperacillin/tazobactam and oral switch to ampicillin/sulbactam plus ciprofloxacin. CONCLUSIONS: We describe the first adolescent with severe systemic D. pneumosintes infection. Since the pathogen is difficult to culture the systemic virulence remains unclear. This work aims to sensitize health care specialists to consider D. pneumosintes infection in patients with periodontal or sinusal infection.