Actinomyces neuii infection following ovarian cystectomy

Abstract

Background: Abdominal Actinomyces infections are rare complications of surgery. A case of Actinomyces neuii presenting as a severe postoperative pelvic infection is described.

Case: A 30 year-old nulligravid female was transferred from an outside hospital for a postoperative fluid collection, fever, leukocytosis, and abdominal pain following exploratory laparotomy and bilateral ovarian cystectomy. She rapidly decompensated requiring emergent exploratory laparotomy, bilateral salpingooophorectomy, and abdominal washout. Cultures isolated A. neuii. Following a prolonged ICU admission, she was treated with prolonged antibiotics and made a complete recovery.

Conclusions: Rare pathogens, such as A. neuii, may cause severe infections following gynecologic surgery. Multidisciplinary care at tertiary care facilities is critical.

Keywords

Ovarian cyst / Actinomyces / Sepsis / Intraabdominal infection

PATIENT CONSENT

The patient presented in this case report provided written con-sent for publication of this case report. Consent is available upon request.

IRB APPROVAL

This case report was considered exempt by our institutional IRB.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE

The authors declare they have no conflicts of interest.

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