Bacillus cereus bacteremia and cerebral lesions in an adolescent with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Bacteriemia por Bacillus cereus y lesiones cerebrales en un adolescente con leucemia linfoide aguda.

Abstract

Bacillus cereus infection commonly presents as a food poisoning, but also is a cause of bacteremia, especially in immunocompromised patients. Herein, the case of an adolescent patient with acute lymphoid leukemia, whom during the course of febrile neutropenia after the first phase of chemotherapy, had bacteremia caused by Bacillus cereus, with development of ischemic brain lesions, with a fatal outcome, despite antibiotic therapy, as well as support in the intensive care unit. In conclusion, B. cereus infection is a cause of infection, especially in patients with febrile neutropenia, with significant complications and a potentially fatal outcome. Their report in blood cultures should be carefully analyzed, frequently found in infections associated with central catheters with profiles of resistance to treatment with clindamycin and quinolones; therefore, empirical treatment with vancomycin is an appropriate option.