Journal of Infection
Volume 52, Issue 6 , Pages e169-e171, June 2006

Psychrobacter bacteraemia in a cirrhotic patient after the consumption of raw geoduck clam

  • Wai K. Leung

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
    • Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Address: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 30-32 Ngan Shing Street, Shatin, Hong Kong, China. Tel.: +852 2632 3140; fax: +852 2637 3852.
    • ,
  • Viola C.Y. Chow

      Affiliations

    • Department of Microbiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
    • ,
  • Martin C.W. Chan

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
    • ,
  • Julia M.L. Ling

      Affiliations

    • Department of Microbiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
    • ,
  • Joseph J.Y. Sung

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
    • Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China

Accepted 31 August 2005.

Summary 

Psychrobacter species rarely cause infections in human. We reported herein a 62-year-old cirrhotic patient who presented with fever and diarrhoea after the consumption of raw geoduck clam. Blood culture grew Psychrobacter phenylpyruvicus which was sensitive to most anti-microbial agents. The patient responded promptly to intravenous antibiotics. This is the first report of human infection with this unusual organism which illustrates the potential health hazards of eating raw geoduck clam in patients with advanced liver disease.

Keywords: Bacteraemia, Cirrhosis, Geoduck clam, Psychrobacter

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

PII: S0163-4453(05)00260-4

doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2005.08.031

Journal of Infection
Volume 52, Issue 6 , Pages e169-e171, June 2006

Article Tools