The bacterium causes damage to the brain, lungs and even the heart.
Dra. Gloria López, Internal Medicine graduate from the Central University of the Caribbean, and one of the authors of the case. Photo: Journal of Medicine and Public Health.
infection by Streptococcus equi in humans has been documented in patients with direct or indirect contact with animals, especially horsesalthough in most of the cases the contamination route has not been clarified.
El Staphylococcus aureus a bacteria coco Gram (+) group Lancefield Cclosely related genetically to Streptococcus zooepidemicus and accounting for less than 2% of all group C2 streptococcal infections.
The bacterium can be identified in horses, cows and dogs, and isolated from secretions from wounds, according to the literature.
“He stays more in the respiratory tract of horses, so if the human is in contact with the animal and this secretion, he can acquire it. This bacterium is fatal in immunocompromised patients,” said the Dr. Gloria Lopezgraduated from Internal Medicine from Central Caribbean Universityand part of the authors of the case.
In Puerto Rico one case was documented patient 62 years old, living in a rural area, living alone with limited family/social support. The patient was exposed to animals, such as horses, chickens, dogs, which within his medical history had been documented to be hypertensive, suffer from diabetes, lung cancer, and suffered from an unidentified lymphoma, detailed the Dr. Lopez.
He added that the patient was found mentally altered by his family, and was transferred to the emergency room, where he presented respiratory failure, requiring mechanical ventilation in the Intensive care unit. The man underwent various laboratory tests, including a CT Scan y study of cerebrospinal fluid due to seizures.
The patient presented altered leukocyte levels, elevated inflammatory markers, fever, among others.
“The patient was started on intravenous antibiotic therapy, fluids for hydration, and day-to-day monitoring was continued to see how he was progressing,” he reiterated.
Culture tests revealed the presence of Streptococcus bacteria equi zooepidemicus to the surprise of doctors.
“In my formative years, this has been the only case I have seen of this type of bacteria, but worldwide there have been several cases that have been reported, and the fatality that the bacteria can cause is quite high in immunocompromised patients. Our patient unfortunately had his fatality at 27 days”, he revealed.
“This bacterium is also characterized by affecting the brain causing meningitis, pneumonia, heart, (…). In our patient it caused bacteremia, pneumonia, meningitis, stroke (…). This case is relevant due to the rarity and at the same time closeness of this bacterium with us human beings. Her diagnosis is a bit challenging and knowing her helps us to take into mind the exposure that the patient might have had (with this type of clinical picture) and that it is known that this bacterium exists and is easily transmissible,” he concluded.
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