Mycotic aortic aneurysm infected by Clostridium septicum: A case report and review of the literature

We report on a case of Clostridium septicum aortic mycotic aneurysm in an 83-year-old patient. This is a rare infectious disease. To our knowledge, only 31 cases have been reported in the literature. The clinical presentation is dominated by abdominal pain with fever. Although only the bacteriological samples can definitely identify the germ, the presence of gas bubbles around an aneurysm on abdominal computed tomography scan suggests C. septicum aortic infection. This infectious disease is frequently associated with neoplasia, mainly colonic. Treatment is primarily surgical resection with bypass or graft, associated with prolonged antibiotic therapy. The prognosis is poor due to vascular complications and pathogenesis of C. septicum. Patients cumulate the death risk from mycotic aneurysm and C. septicum sepsis. (C) 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.