Aeromonas hydrophila sepsis with septic embolism and rhabdomyolysis in a chronic iron overload haemodialysis patient treated with deferoxamine

Abstract

Aeromonas infection in humans is associated with certain underlying diseases, especially chronic liver disease or malignancy. However, Aeromonas infection associated with iron overload is rarely reported. We report a case of a 47-year-old female with end-stage renal disease on haemodialysis and on deferoxamine treatment for iron overload who developed Aeromonas sepsis with septic embolism and rhabdomyolysis. Although the patients with Aeromonas infection and rhabdomyolysis have been correlated with high mortality, this reported case survived. We suggest that a chronic haemodialysis patient on deferoxamine treatment for iron overload is vulnerable to Aeromonas infection. In such cases, the clinician should be alerted to the possibility of rhabdomyolsis, and frequent haemodialysis is necessary. © The Author [2009].