Capnocytophaga sputigena bacteremia in a neutropenic host

Abstract

Capnocytophaga species belong to the oral microbiota but are not a common cause of infection in febrile neutropenia. Nevertheless, neutropenia can cause bacteremia associated with mucositis, with lower rates of mortality. While empirical therapy with beta-lactams is generally effective, there is concern about the emergence of bacterial resistance. We present a case of a febrile neutropenic patient with mucositis presenting with C. sputigena bacteremia.

Keywords: Capnocytophaga; Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; Microbiota; febrile neutropenia.

Fig. 1

(a) Lips swelling and ulcerative oral mucositis with sloughing and necrosis on day +9 of neutropenia. (b) Colonial and microscopic findings of Capnocytophaga sputigena. Gray-colored non-hemolytic colonies on a blood agar plate after 48 h of incubation at 35 °C with 5% CO2. (c) Thin, spindle-shaped, gram-negative bacilli from smear preparations of the blood agar plate (Gram stain, ×100).