Aeromonas hydrophila Sepsis Associated with Consumption of Raw Oysters

Abstract

Introduction. Aeromonas hydrophila is a gram negative bacillus that is native to aquatic environments that is increasingly reported in humans. This case is remarkable for A. hydrophila with an initial presentation of acute pancreatitis. Case Presentation. A 61-year-old male presented to the emergency department with nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain for two days. His past medical history was significant for alcohol abuse. Initial laboratory examination showed an elevated white blood cell count, elevated lipase, and elevated liver function tests (LFT). Computer tomography (CT) showed peripancreatic inflammatory changes and retroperitoneal free fluid, suggestive of acute pancreatitis. The patient was treated with intravenous (IV) fluids and IV meropenem. After two days, the patient developed sepsis and respiratory failure and was intubated. Blood cultures were positive for Aeromonas hydrophila sensitive to ciprofloxacin which was added to his treatment. Additionally, it was discovered that this patient had recently vacationed in Florida where he consumed raw oysters. He was discharged home on the eighth day of the hospital admission. Conclusion. This is a rare case of A. hydrophila sepsis in an elderly patient with acute pancreatitis and a history of consumption of raw oysters. This case suggests that A. hydrophila can cause disseminated infection in immunocompetent individuals.

1. Background

The infection of Aeromonas is often associated with consumption of fish, shellfish, and open wound exposure to contaminated water. In humans, it can cause a wide variety of infections including gastroenteritis, necrotizing fasciitis, myonecrosis, cellulitis, pneumonia, empyema, and urogenital tract infections [1]. Aeromonas has also been associated with septicemia in immunocompromised patients or those who have experienced acute injury in an aquatic environment allowing the bacteria to be introduced from an outside source. A small, but growing, subset of Aeromonas septicemia cases have been reported in individuals with no risk factors [1]. In this rare case, we report Aeromonas hydrophila septicemia associated with the consumption of raw oysters in a 61-year-old male with the initial presentation of acute pancreatitis.

2. Case Presentation

A 61-year-old male presented to the emergency room with the complaint of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain that began the previous day. Patient denied fever, diarrhea, constipation, bloody vomiting, or blood in the stool. His past medical history was only significant for alcohol abuse and smoking. The patient was found to be in no acute distress. Vital signs were stable except for tachycardia at 121 beats per minute. Physical examination showed mild abdominal distention, tenderness, hypoactive bowel sounds, and guarding. Laboratory examination revealed hemoglobin of 19.5 g/dL, leukocytes of 20,200 cells/mm³, lipase of 789 U/L, AST of 557 IU/L, ALT of 152 IU/L, and total bilirubin of 9.1 mg/dL. Patient underwent CT scan of the abdomen which showed peripancreatic inflammatory changes and retroperitoneal free fluid, suggestive of acute pancreatitis. Due to concern of progression to pancreatic necrosis, the patient was admitted to the ICU, made NPO, and given IV fluids. The next day the patient’s condition rapidly deteriorated, he became unresponsive, and he developed respiratory failure requiring intubation. IV meropenem 500 mg every 8 hours was started empirically. On the third day of the hospital admission, the blood cultures returned positive for A. hydrophila which were isolated from both aerobic and anaerobic vials. The specimen was cultured on blood agar and chocolate agar. Gram stain showed gram negative bacilli. Additional tests were done via MicroScan system which showed a 91% probability of A. hydrophila group. Test for Vibrio cholera was negative. Sequencing via rpoD gene confirmed A. hydrophila. Aeromonas was found to be sensitive to ciprofloxacin. IV ciprofloxacin 400 mg once daily was added to his antibiotic treatment. Additional history was obtained from the family, and it was discovered that the patient was vacationing in Florida two weeks previously, where he ingested raw oysters. The patient recovered and was discharged on the eight day of the hospital admission.

3. Discussion

Aeromonas are gram negative facultative anaerobes, which are indigenous to aquatic environments and are known for causing infection in fish and animals. Their morphological characteristics include straight cocobacillary to bacillary cells with an approximate diameter of 1.0 micrometer, and a length of 3.5 micrometers. Aeromonas are usually motile with a single polar flagellum [2]. Recently, there were increased reports of debilitating infections in humans including fatal septicemia. In 2004, it was estimated incidence of Aeromonas septicemia was 1.5 per million population [1]. As of 2009, there were 22 recorded species of Aeromonas with 2 new species being proposed [3]. The following species are associated with human clinical infection: Aeromonas hydrophila, A. aquariorum, A. veronii, A. caviae, A. trota, and A. media [3, 4].

Most Aeromonas are isolated in the laboratory using blood agar with 20 μg of ampicillin with the exception of A. trota due to its sensitivity to ampicillin [5]. Further identification is done based on the beta-hemolysis by screening with the oxidase and spot indole test. In order to distinguish Aeromonas form Vibrio and Plesiomonas the culture is grown in salt concentrations >6% with vibriostatic agent O/129 [2]. Gene sequencing is the best way to differentiate Aeromonas on a species level. The sequencing of 16S rRNA, a single housekeeping gene, was previously used to differentiate Aeromonas species [6]. Unfortunately, it turned out that horizontal transfer of the gene occurred between species making the results unreliable. The rpoD and gyrB genes have been far more precise in identifying Aeromonas species [4]. If long term storage of the isolate is needed, the recommendation is to use trypticase soy broth with a 30% glycerol at a temperature of −80 centigrade [7].

The pathogenicity of A. hydrophila is caused by a type III secretion system (TTSS) and act gene [8, 9]. TTSS enables the delivery of toxins inside the host cells. A type II-secreted cytotoxic enterotoxin (Act) which has hemolytic and cytotoxic functions is encoded by the act gene. These virulence factors are linked to clinical infection and play a key role in the disease process. A. hydrophila also has the enzymes elastase and pectinaseare. These enzymes act on the immune system and cause tissue destruction and hemolysis [10]. The majority of Aeromonas infections usually present as gastroenteritis with the symptoms of acute watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, and nausea. The infections are self-limiting with mild dehydration. Aeromonas infections are also known to cause hemolytic urmeic syndrome, meningitis, peritonitis, wound infections, respiratory tract infection, ocular diseases, cellulitis, necrotizing fasciitis, peritonitis and cholangitis. Near drowning events have led to Aeromonas pneumonia [1]. Our extensive literature review did not find a single report of sepsis with the initial presentation of acute pancreatitis. Overall, there are no clinical symptoms that clearly help to distinguish Aeromonas sepsis from sepsis caused by other bacteria, which is unfortunate since Aeromonas septicemia can have a mortality rate as high as 46% [11].

The main treatment of Aeromonas is quinolones with levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin being the antibiotics of choice. There are reports of resistance to quinolones due to the qnr protein. This product interferes with the DNA gyrase inhibitor of quinolones and grants resistance to them [12]. If the qnr protein is present, additional antibiotic coverage with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or cephalosporins should be considered. Due to the above concerns, current recommendation does not include starting the patient on empiric antibiotic treatment. Clinicians should wait for culture and sensitivity results before antibiotic treatment is started. Aeromonas possess a wide range of beta-lactamases, generally making them resistant to penicillins, cephalosporins, extended spectrum cephalosporins, clavulanic acid, tazobactam, and sulbactam [13].

4. Conclusion

Although Aeromonas septicemia is rare, it can carry a high mortality rate of 46%. Immunocompromised patients, those who suffered open wounds in aquatic environments and those who have consumed fish and shellfish are at highest risk. There has been an increasing amount of Aeromonas infections in immunocompetent patients. Since there is wide spread consumption of raw fish and shellfish in the United States, clinicians should consider Aeromonas infection in addition to Vibrio infection as one of the differential diagnoses.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.