Clostridium paraputrificum Bacteremia in a Patient with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Clostridium paraputrificum (C. paraputrificum) is clinically important due to its association with underlying medical conditions. Infection with C. paraputrificum may worsen HIV prognosis, leading to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. However, it is not frequently isolated and its susceptibility to antibiotics has not been well studied. Our report examines the case of a patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, who was diagnosed with Clostridium paraputrificum bacteremia. A 59-year-old male was admitted to hospital with a medical history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and neck pain. Following episodes of high fever, the patient received a full work up to test for sepsis. Blood culture revealed bacterial growth, and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry confirmed the diagnosis of Clostridium paraputrificum bacteremia. The patient received treatment with meropenem and vancomycin antibiotics, which cleared the infection after 48 hours; however, inflammatory markers remained high. To date, a limited number of reported cases of C. paraputrificum exist; thus, this case report contributes valuable information to the literature to improve our understanding of its action and resistance profiles and aid future bacteremia management.