[A case of liver abscess caused by Fusobacterium nucleatum in a patient with recurrent periodontal diseases]

Korean J Gastroenterol. 2011 Jan;57(1):42-6. doi: 10.4166/kjg.2011.57.1.42.
[Article in Korean]

Abstract

Fusobacteria are anaerobic gram-negative, non-spore forming bacilli found in normal flora of the oral cavity, urogenital tract, and gastrointestinal tract. Fusobacterium nucleatum has been seldom reported as a cause of liver abscess, particularly in immunocompetent hosts. A 55-year-old man with frequent periodontal disease visited our hospital with intermittent fever and headache for 2 months. Abdominal CT scan revealed an 8.2 × 6 cm mass in the right hepatic lobe with central low density. Abscess culture revealed F. nucleatum as the causative organism. Percutaneous abscess drainage and intravenous administration of antibiotics for 4 weeks improved symptoms and decreased the abscess size. We report a rare case of liver abscess due to F. nucleatum in an immunocompetent man with periodontal disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Ampicillin / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Fusobacterium Infections / complications
  • Fusobacterium Infections / diagnosis*
  • Fusobacterium Infections / drug therapy
  • Fusobacterium nucleatum / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Liver Abscess / diagnosis*
  • Liver Abscess / etiology
  • Liver Abscess / microbiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Periodontal Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Sulbactam / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Ampicillin
  • Sulbactam