Fannyhessea vaginae bacteremia following transvaginal procedures: A rare complication in assisted reproductive technology

Background

Fannyhessea vaginae is commonly found in vaginal flora and associated with bacterial vaginosis, but rarely causes invasive infections. Few cases of F. vaginae bacteremia have been reported, primarily in the context of pregnancy or gynecological procedures.

Case

A 40-year-old woman presented with fever and right lower abdominal pain two weeks after undergoing transvaginal procedures for assisted reproductive technology. She had no symptoms of bacterial vaginosis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 9 cm tubo-ovarian mass. Blood cultures and surgical specimens grew gram-positive cocci, later identified as F. vaginae. The patient recovered following right salpingo-oophorectomy and seven days of cefmetazole therapy.

Conclusion

This case demonstrates that F. vaginae can cause serious infections following transvaginal procedures, even in the absence of symptoms of bacterial vaginosis. Clinicians should consider F. vaginae as a potential pathogen in post-gynecological procedure infections, particularly when anaerobic blood cultures become positive.