A Rare Case of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Triggered by Sepsis Due to Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia

Abstract

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare disease that occurs due to unregulated immune system activation induced by various causes including infection and cancer. In this article, we report a case of a 67-year-old male with history of small cell lung cancer who developed HLH triggered by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia. The patient was initially admitted for septic shock and gastrointestinal bleed. Further workup showed that the patient met criteria for HLH diagnosis as he was positive for 5 of the 8 parameters. Unfortunately, the patient’s condition worsened and he eventually expired. With this case, we wish to draw attention to the fact that sepsis due to MRSA bacteremia can be a trigger for HLH.