We report a rapidly fatal Bacillus cereus septicemia in a leukemic pat
ient receiving remission-induction therapy. Symptoms resembling food p
oisoning and fever preceded coma accompanied by neurologic abnormaliti
es, Autopsy revealed necrotizing leptomeningitis with subarachnoid hem
orrhage and coagulation necrosis of the liver with bacterial infiltrat
ion. These clinicopathologic findings were closely similar to those of
reported cases, Because of a rapidly fatal clinical course, suspicion
of this syndrome early in the course is important to determine an app
ropriate treatment, Therefore, we propose that this type of septicemia
should be termed as fulminant septicemic syndrome of Bacillus cereus.