Pulmonary Gangrene Due to Rhizopus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Probable Sarcina Organisms

Mycopathologia. 2015 Aug;180(1-2):131-6. doi: 10.1007/s11046-015-9904-3. Epub 2015 May 29.

Abstract

Pulmonary gangrene is a life-threatening condition, which represents the fulminant end of the infectious lung diseases usually caused by polymicrobial infection. Aerobic and anaerobic bacteria act synergistically to produce massive tissue necrosis which might be augmented by the angioinvasive nature of fungi like Mucor. We report a successfully treated case of pulmonary gangrene in a poorly controlled diabetic patient, which was associated with polymicrobial infection. It was caused by Rhizopus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and unusual anaerobic organism Sarcina. This is the first report describing the presence of Sarcina organisms in a case of pulmonary gangrene. Adequate glycemic control, treatment of coexisting polymicrobial infection and prompt antifungal therapy along with surgical intervention were useful in the index patient. This case also highlights the effectiveness of combined medical and surgical intervention in a case of pulmonary gangrene.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Infective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Coinfection / diagnosis*
  • Coinfection / microbiology*
  • Coinfection / pathology
  • Coinfection / therapy
  • Debridement
  • Diabetes Complications
  • Gangrene / diagnosis*
  • Gangrene / microbiology*
  • Gangrene / pathology
  • Gangrene / therapy
  • Histocytochemistry
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae / isolation & purification
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Lung Diseases / microbiology*
  • Lung Diseases / pathology
  • Lung Diseases / therapy
  • Male
  • Microscopy
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Rhizopus / isolation & purification
  • Sarcina / isolation & purification
  • Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Hypoglycemic Agents