Abstract
We present a 64-year-old man with sepsis due to Aeromonas hydrophila.The patient underwent a pyloruspreserving pancreatoduodenectomy for papillary carcinoma. On the first postoperative day, he was in sudden illness with high fever, chills and tachycardia. On laboratory tests, WBC counts was 1, 900/mm3, CPK was 6, 026IU/l, and arterial blood gas levels under room air breathing were; pO2 of 62.6mmHg, and pCO2, of 30mmHg. A chest x-ray film showed alveolar infiltrates located at the left pulmonary base. We diagnosed that he was under septic condition, DIC, and ARDS so that he was treated by intensive care. Thereafter, the findings of chest x-ray film gradually became better and the artificial support for respiration was not needed after 4th day following admission to intensive care unit. Aeromonas hydrophila was cultured from blood specimens. Aeromonas sepsis is a relatively rare entity but when it is experienced, the condition might significantly deteriorate within a short time. It is important to remark the possibility of Aeromonas hydrophila sepsis in compromised hosts. Furthermore, since Aeromonas hydrophila is low sensitive to pencillins and the first and second generation cephems, attention may have to be paid to postoperative infections due to the microorganism in future.
