Concomitant Liver and Brain Abscesses Caused by Parvimonas Micra

Korean J Gastroenterol. 2019 Apr 25;73(4):230-234. doi: 10.4166/kjg.2019.73.4.230.

Abstract

Anaerobic infections have been reported to be responsible for 3-10% of pyogenic liver abscesses in Korea, and reported anaerobes include Fusobacterium, Bacillus fragilis, and Bacteroides melaninogenicus. Parvimonas micra is an anaerobic, Gram-positive, non-spore-forming bacterial species and a constituent of normal flora on skin, vagina, gastrointestinal tract, and oral cavity that can cause opportunistic infections. However, it has only rarely been reported to be a cause of liver abscess; only one such case has been reported in Korea. We experienced a case of concomitant liver and brain abscesses caused by Parvimonas micra in a non-immunodeficient 65-year-old female patient without diabetes or periodontal disease. Parvimonas micra infection was confirmed by blood culture using VITEK® 2 cards and by bacterial 16s ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. We conclude that we should not overlook anaerobes as a cause of liver abscess.

Keywords: Bacteria; Brain abscess; Liver abscess; Parvimonas Micra; anaerobic.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdomen / diagnostic imaging
  • Aged
  • Brain Abscess / diagnosis*
  • Brain Abscess / microbiology
  • Female
  • Firmicutes / genetics
  • Firmicutes / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Liver Abscess, Pyogenic / diagnosis*
  • Liver Abscess, Pyogenic / microbiology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / chemistry
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / metabolism
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

Supplementary concepts

  • Parvimonas micra