Yersinia enterocolitica bacteremia in a chronically transfused patient with sickle cell anemia. Case report and review of the literature.

Purpose: Yersinia enterocolitica sepsis is rarely encountered in patients without an underlying susceptibility and is most frequently reported in iron-overloaded patients. This is thought to be related to the unusual utilization of iron by this microorganism. We report a case of Y. enterocolitica bacteremia in a chronically transfused adolescent with sickle cell anemia. This type of serious infection in sickle cell disease is previously unreported. A description of the case and the relationship between Y. enterocolitica and iron is discussed. A review of the literature is presented.

Results: Y. enterocolitica can cause a severe septicemia, and increased virulence of this organism has been shown to correlate with increased iron burden and/or use of the chelator deferoxamine. It may also occur as a consequence of a contaminated blood transfusion.

Conclusions: We believe our case demonstrates that Y. enterocolitica should be considered a possible pathogen in febrile chronically transfused patients with sickle cell disease. Broad antibiotic coverage should be initiated and deferoxamine discontinued pending results of cultures.