Unexpected Death Associated With Clostridial Sepsis

An 85-year-old woman with a history of breast carcinoma presented to hospital after gradual onset of abdominal pain with hypotension, jaundice, and massive intravascular hemolysis. This was caused by Clostridium perfringens septicemia originating from a liver abscess. Clostridium perfringens septicemia is a rare infection that has a high mortality rate, given that it is frequently unable to be diagnosed until postmortem examination. The source of the pathogen is usually intra-abdominal. Hepatic abscesses, although an uncommon source of primary clostridial infection, should be considered in such cases.
Source: The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology - Category: Forensic Medicine Tags: Case Reports Source Type: research