Vancomycin-Resistant Bacillus cereus Pneumonia and Bacteremia After Nonfatal Freshwater Drowning

Bacillus cereus, a gram-positive rod commonly found in natural environments, is often presumed to be a contaminant or associated with toxin-mediated gastrointestinal disease. Bacillus cereus rarely causes severe invasive infections. Here we describe the case of a previously healthy young man who had...

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Main Authors: Deepthi Nacharaju, Asa Tapley, Ellora N. Karmarkar, Ferric C. Fang, Nicholas J. Johnson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American College of Physicians 2024-08-01
Series:Annals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases
Online Access:https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/aimcc.2024.0226
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author Deepthi Nacharaju
Asa Tapley
Ellora N. Karmarkar
Ferric C. Fang
Nicholas J. Johnson
author_facet Deepthi Nacharaju
Asa Tapley
Ellora N. Karmarkar
Ferric C. Fang
Nicholas J. Johnson
author_sort Deepthi Nacharaju
collection DOAJ
description Bacillus cereus, a gram-positive rod commonly found in natural environments, is often presumed to be a contaminant or associated with toxin-mediated gastrointestinal disease. Bacillus cereus rarely causes severe invasive infections. Here we describe the case of a previously healthy young man who had a nonfatal drowning incident in a freshwater lake, which resulted in acute respiratory distress syndrome requiring venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. He subsequently developed vancomycin-resistant B cereus pneumonia and bacteremia and died of complications of his disease. Bacillus cereus should be considered as a potential pathogen when repeatedly isolated from normally sterile sites, particularly in critically ill patients.
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issn 2767-7664
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publishDate 2024-08-01
publisher American College of Physicians
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series Annals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases
spelling doaj-art-ba0d39295f2c411f837caa4b94a6094f2025-08-20T03:18:46ZengAmerican College of PhysiciansAnnals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases2767-76642024-08-013810.7326/aimcc.2024.0226Vancomycin-Resistant Bacillus cereus Pneumonia and Bacteremia After Nonfatal Freshwater DrowningDeepthi Nacharaju0Asa Tapley1Ellora N. Karmarkar2Ferric C. Fang3Nicholas J. Johnson41Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington1Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington1Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington3Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington1Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WashingtonBacillus cereus, a gram-positive rod commonly found in natural environments, is often presumed to be a contaminant or associated with toxin-mediated gastrointestinal disease. Bacillus cereus rarely causes severe invasive infections. Here we describe the case of a previously healthy young man who had a nonfatal drowning incident in a freshwater lake, which resulted in acute respiratory distress syndrome requiring venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. He subsequently developed vancomycin-resistant B cereus pneumonia and bacteremia and died of complications of his disease. Bacillus cereus should be considered as a potential pathogen when repeatedly isolated from normally sterile sites, particularly in critically ill patients.https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/aimcc.2024.0226
spellingShingle Deepthi Nacharaju
Asa Tapley
Ellora N. Karmarkar
Ferric C. Fang
Nicholas J. Johnson
Vancomycin-Resistant Bacillus cereus Pneumonia and Bacteremia After Nonfatal Freshwater Drowning
Annals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases
title Vancomycin-Resistant Bacillus cereus Pneumonia and Bacteremia After Nonfatal Freshwater Drowning
title_full Vancomycin-Resistant Bacillus cereus Pneumonia and Bacteremia After Nonfatal Freshwater Drowning
title_fullStr Vancomycin-Resistant Bacillus cereus Pneumonia and Bacteremia After Nonfatal Freshwater Drowning
title_full_unstemmed Vancomycin-Resistant Bacillus cereus Pneumonia and Bacteremia After Nonfatal Freshwater Drowning
title_short Vancomycin-Resistant Bacillus cereus Pneumonia and Bacteremia After Nonfatal Freshwater Drowning
title_sort vancomycin resistant bacillus cereus pneumonia and bacteremia after nonfatal freshwater drowning
url https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/aimcc.2024.0226
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AT ellorankarmarkar vancomycinresistantbacilluscereuspneumoniaandbacteremiaafternonfatalfreshwaterdrowning
AT ferriccfang vancomycinresistantbacilluscereuspneumoniaandbacteremiaafternonfatalfreshwaterdrowning
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