Uterine Necrosis Associated with Fusobacterium necrophorum Infection

Abstract

Fusobacterium necrophorum is infrequently implicated as a pathogenic organism. When pathogenic, the typical clinical presentation is that of pharyngitis, cervical adenopathy, and unilateral thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein. Infections caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum within the fields of obstetrics and gynecology have been infrequently reported. We describe a 19-year-old woman who underwent a cesarean delivery complicated by sepsis and purulent uterine necrosis secondary to Fusobacterium necrophorum infection.

Figure 1

(a) Medium power magnification with Hematoxylin and Eosin staining revealing a moderately diffuse infiltrate of polymorphonuclear white blood cells (black arrows) between the amnion (arrowhead) and the chorion (white arrows). (b) Medium power magnification with Hematoxylin and Eosin staining revealing chorionitis with a dense infiltrate of polymorphonuclear white blood cells (encircled) within the chorion (white arrow). The amnion is also visible (arrowhead).

Figure 2

High power magnification with Hematoxylin and Eosin staining revealing a diffuse infiltrate of polymorphonuclear white blood cells (white arrow), necrotic anuclear smooth muscle cells (asterisk), and purulence (black arrow).

Figure 3

Axial chest computed tomography scan with intravenous contrast revealing right pleural effusion (white arrow) and left pleural effusion with consolidation (black arrow).