Osteomyelitis due to Bacillus cereus in an adolescent: case report and review

Clin Infect Dis. 1994 Jun;18(6):863-7. doi: 10.1093/clinids/18.6.863.

Abstract

Non-anthracis Bacillus species associated with clinical infections are usually dismissed as contaminants or nonpathogens. As opportunists, however, Bacillus organisms can cause significant systemic infections including bacteremia, endophthalmitis, and pneumonia. Osteomyelitis with non-anthracis Bacillus organisms has been described in adults, although to our knowledge it has been described only once in a child. We report a case of chronic osteomyelitis due to Staphylococcus aureus and superinfection with Bacillus cereus in a 13-year-old adolescent. A Bacillus isolate should be considered a true pathogen in children with chronic osteomyelitis who have a poor clinical response to antistaphylococcal therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Bacillaceae Infections / etiology*
  • Bacillaceae Infections / therapy
  • Bacillus cereus*
  • Bone Transplantation
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Female
  • Femur / diagnostic imaging
  • Femur / surgery
  • Humans
  • Osteomyelitis / diagnostic imaging
  • Osteomyelitis / etiology*
  • Osteomyelitis / therapy
  • Radiography
  • Staphylococcal Infections / complications
  • Superinfection / etiology*
  • Superinfection / therapy
  • Vancomycin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Vancomycin