Necrotizing enterocolitis associated with Clostridium paraputrificum septicemia

Abstract

A 38-year-old woman with chronic, noncyclic neutropenia had an episode of acute abdominal pain associated with clostridial septicemia. Clostridium paraputrificum was isolated from blood and peritoneal cultures. The pathogenic potential of C paraputrificum was established by surgical biopsy specimens which demonstrated necrotizing enterocolitis with the typical gram-positive rods. This report strengthens a recognized, established association between neutropenia and clostridial infection.