Emergence of Francisella novicida Bacteremia in Thailand
Author Information
Author(s): Leelaporn Amornrut, Yongyod Samaporn, Limsrivanichakorn Sunee, Yungyuen Thitiya, Kiratisin Pattarachai
Primary Institution: Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Conclusion
The case highlights the challenges in diagnosing Francisella novicida infections due to its rarity and the potential for misidentification in clinical settings.
Supporting Evidence
- Only five patients with suspected F. novicida infection have been reported prior to this case.
- The patient had a history of advanced ovarian cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy.
- Identification of the bacterium was complicated due to its misidentification as other species.
- The patient died two days after being referred to another hospital.
Takeaway
A woman in Thailand got sick from a rare germ called Francisella novicida while she was getting treatment for cancer, but doctors didn't realize what was wrong until it was too late.
Methodology
Blood cultures were taken and analyzed using various microbiological techniques including 16S rDNA and PPIase gene analyses.
Potential Biases
There may be a risk of bias in the clinical diagnosis due to the nonspecific symptoms and unfamiliarity with the pathogen.
Limitations
The identification of the bacterium was delayed due to misidentification and lack of awareness of its significance.
Participant Demographics
The patient was a 37-year-old woman undergoing chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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