Case report
Yersinia enterocolitica – causitive agent of enterocolitis in a 14 year-old boy
Zdenka Trischler-Čeke
; ZZJZ Vukovarsko-srijemske županije, Vukovar
Biljana Bunjevac-Horvatić
; OB Vukovar, Vukovar
Vesna Matejić
; ZZJZ Vukovarsko-srijemske županije, Vukovar
Abstract
Yersinia enterocolitica is one of the rare causes of enterocolitis. Bacterial genus Yersinia is a Gram-negative coccobacillus and its morphology is no different than in other enterobacteria. The difference is the isolation on selective nutritive media (CIN agar), biochemical characteristics of metabolism (production of urease), growth and ability for multiplication at +4 °C. Risk factors for development of this infection are childhood, alcoholism and immunodeficiency. The autors report a case of mesenterial lymphadenitis in a 14 year-old boy with clinical symptoms of acute appendicitis. The first specialist´s exam was performed at the General Surgery Department of Vukovar General Hospital. Because of severe clinical symptoms, strong abdominal pains and diarrhea, a microbiologist was consulted who suggested that Yersinia enterocolitica should be tested with standard bacteriological methods. Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:3 was identified in all three stool samples. An infectologist was verbally notified even before the end of the sensitivity testing. He took over further treatment and successfully terminated the boy´s illness. This case report leads to a conclusion that clinical symptoms of enterocolitis with strong abdominal pains, especially in children, have to lead the clinical examiner to think of Yersinia.
Keywords
Yersinia enterocolitica; pseudoappendicitis; children
Hrčak ID:
30501
URI
Publication date:
3.6.2008.
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