Septicaemia due to Yersinia enterocolitica after oral overdoses of iron.

Septicaemia occurred after accidental oral overdoses of iron in two previously healthy children. Yersinia enterocolitica serotype 0:3 was recovered from blood and stool cultures in both patients. Enhanced growth of Y enterocolitica in the intestine combined with damage of intestinal mucosa may have been of major importance for the development of generalised infection in these cases. Iron and the iron chelating agent desferrioxamine may possibly have a pathogenetic role in such circumstances.