CLOSTRIDIUM-SEPTICUM ABSCESS IN HEPATIC METASTASES - SUCCESSFUL MEDICAL-MANAGEMENT

Clostridium septicum bacteremia is frequently associated with hematolo gic and colonic malignancies and neutropenia. It frequently produces ' metastatic' gangrene with excessive mortality. Standard therapy usuall y includes surgical debridement and antibiotics. We present a patient with metastatic breast cancer treated with high-dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation. She was treated successfully with antibio tics alone despite developing Cl. septicum bacteremia and gas in hepat ic metastases. The pathophysiology of this infection is reviewed.