AUTHOR=Peng Liwei , Chen Xiaomin , Wang Zhenhui , Yi Lu , Jin Zhengjiang 

TITLE=Maternal puerperal infection caused by Parabacteroides goldsteinii: a case report

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1450931

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2024.1450931

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=<sec id="sec1"><title>Background</title><p><italic>Parabacteroides goldsteinii,</italic> a member of the <italic>Parabacteroides genus</italic>, was initially discovered in the feces and abdominal tissue of patients with appendicitis, peritonitis, and abdominal abscesses. In recent years, <italic>P. goldsteinii</italic> has been widely regarded as a gut probiotic, and human infections have been extremely rare. In 2010, <italic>P. goldsteinii</italic> was first isolated from the blood culture of a patient with abdominal infection, confirming its ability to cause bacteremia. In this study, we report a rare case of puerperal infection with septic shock caused by <italic>P. goldsteinii</italic> infection in a pregnant woman.</p></sec><sec id="sec2"><title>Case presentation</title><p>A 31-year-old female experienced perineal lacerations, cervical lacerations, and postpartum hemorrhage during childbirth. Nine days postpartum, the patient developed septic shock, and <italic>P. goldsteinii</italic> infection was identified through blood culture and mass spectrometry. We administered broad-spectrum antibiotics, including meropenem/nalidixic acid and piperacillin tazobactam, intravenously, but the antimicrobial effect was not satisfactory. Upon ultrasound examination, we identified a focus of infection in the patient’s uterus. Subsequently, uterine curettage was performed, followed by uterine cavity irrigation with metronidazole and intramuscular injection of gentamicin and dexamethasone. Following treatment, the patient’s physiological parameters gradually returned to normal, and she was discharged 30 days after admission.</p></sec><sec id="sec3"><title>Conclusion</title><p><italic>Parabacteroides goldsteinii</italic> bacteraemia is extremely rare, and clinically, the postinfection toxicity of this bacterium appears to be significant. In this report, we review the research history of <italic>P. goldsteinii</italic> and relevant infection cases, aiming to enhance awareness among clinical practitioners, particularly obstetricians and gynecologists, regarding <italic>P. goldsteinii</italic> bloodstream infections, facilitating early diagnosis and timely treatment.</p></sec>