A Case of Pneumococcal Typhlitis

Gastrointestinal diseases

“…Discussion. Most current textbooks do not mention the fact that S. pneumoniae may cause abdominal infection, even though a small number of case reports have described primary pneumococcal peritonitis, enteritis, and appendicitis [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. Other authors have described cases of secondary, nonspecific gastrointestinal manifestations, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, in association with bacteremic and nonbacteremic pneumococcal infection [19][20][21][22].…”

“…We believe that our patient had enteritis due to S. pneumoniae, for the following reasons: (1) pneumococcal bacteremia was documented, and no source other than the patient's gastrointestinal tract was apparent; (2) findings on laparotomy confirmed the presence of enteritis; and (3) gastrointestinal symptoms resolved promptly after the initiation of antibiotic therapy. In our review of the literature, we were able to find only 3 other cases of primary pneumococcal enteritis [6][7][8]. One case involved a 29-year-old man with clinical symptoms typical of appendicitis.…”

BRIEF REPORT: Acute Terminal Ileitis Associated with Pneumococcal Bacteremia: Case Report and Review of Pneumococcal Gastrointestinal Diseases

“…Most current textbooks do not mention the fact that S. pneumoniae may cause abdominal infection, even though a small number of case reports have described primary pneumococcal peritonitis, enteritis, and appendicitis [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. Other authors have described cases of secondary, nonspecific gastrointestinal manifestations, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, in association with bacteremic and nonbacteremic pneumococcal infection [19][20][21][22].…”

“…In our review of the literature, we were able to find only 3 other cases of primary pneumococcal enteritis [6][7][8].…”

“…On exploratory laparotomy, only an inflamed cecum was found, and a swab of the cecal wall yielded pneumococci [8]. In another case, a 4-year-old girl with complaints of profuse, watery diarrhea, headache, and anorexia had pneumococcal enteritis that was confirmed by stool cultures containing numerous pneumococci [6].…”