Spontaneous Clostridium perfringens lung abscess unresponsive to penicillin.

Abstract

Clostridial necrotising pneumonia is a rare complication of aspiration, bronchial tumour or foreign body, pulmonary infarction, trauma and debilitating medical conditions. Although spontaneous clostridial pneumonia has been reported previously, close scrutiny of those case reports suggests that most of the patients had a recognised predisposing cause. We report a case of true spontaneous Clostridium perfringens pneumonia complicated by septic shock, pneumothorax and pulmonary necrosis. The patient responded poorly to conventional treatment with benzylpenicillin, and although the addition of metronidazole produced dramatic resolution of the sepsis, lobectomy was required to effect cure.

• Authors: L Baldwin, A Henderson, M Wright, M Whitby
• Journal: Anaesthesia and intensive care (Anaesth Intensive Care) Vol. 21 Issue 1 Pg. 117-9 (Feb 1993) ISSN: 0310-057X [Print] United States
• PMID: 8447582 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Metronidazole
• Penicillin G

Topics

• Clostridium Infections (drug therapy)
• Clostridium perfringens
• Humans
• Injections, Intravenous
• Lung Abscess (drug therapy, microbiology)
• Male
• Metronidazole (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Middle Aged
• Penicillin G (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Penicillin Resistance
• Pneumonia (drug therapy, microbiology)