Fatal Aeromonas Septicemia in Two Patients with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia: Clinical significance in neutropenic states and review of the literature

Abstract

Two cases of Aeromonas septicemia with acute myelogenous leukemia are presented. Both cases were complicated with Aeromonas septicemia when peripheral leukocytes were markedly decreased, and accompanied by abdominal pain, diarrhea and disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome. Inspite of administration of antibiotic agents which were active against the bacteria, patients died within 2 weeks.
Our cases were fatal as cases reported in the literature in whom Aeromonas septicemia developed in neutropenic states of less than 500/μl. As Aeromonas is found in water and soil widely, and it is resistent to chlorination, Aeromonas infection must be checked out more carefully during the treatment of acute leukemia and other neutropenic states, although it is relatively rare.