1.Cellulitis due to Shewanella algae: Crucial diagnostic clues from basic microbiological tests
Ding, C.H. ; Wahab, A.A. ; Muttaqillah, N.A.S. ; Kamarudin, N. ; Saarah, W.R.
Tropical Biomedicine 2019;36(4):883-887
Shewanella spp. are infrequently implicated in human infections but they are
emerging pathogens with particular significance in regions with warm climates, such as
Southeast Asia. This is a case of a middle-aged diabetic and hypertensive man who presented
with worsening congestive heart failure symptoms associated with fever and a painful right
leg. His right leg had numerous scabs and was tender, warm and erythematous. He was
provisionally diagnosed with decompensated heart failure precipitated by cellulitis and
uncontrolled hypertension. His blood grew non-fermentative, oxidase-positive and motile
gram-negative bacilli which produced hydrogen sulfide on triple sugar iron agar. When cultured
on blood agar, mucoid and weakly β-haemolytic colonies were observed after 48 hours. API
20 NE named the isolate as Shewanella putrefaciens but 16S rRNA sequence analysis identified
the organism as Shewanella algae. The patient was treated with a 10-day course of ceftazidime,
which resulted in the resolution of the cellulitis.
2.Salmonella enteritidis abdominal aorta mycotic aneurysm presented with acute cholestatic jaundice: A case report and literature review
Wahab, A.A. ; Mohamed, N. ; Ding, C.H. ; Muttaqillah, N.A.S. ; Rosli, N. ; Mohammed, F.
Tropical Biomedicine 2023;40(No.1):23-28
Mycotic aneurysm is one of the extra-intestinal manifestations of Salmonella Enteritidis infection. The
diagnosis of this condition is challenging owed to its variation in clinical presentations. We presented
a case of a 54-year-old man with underlying diabetes mellitus and chronic smokers presented with
acute right flank pain and fever associated with mild jaundice. The initial laboratory investigations
suggested features of obstructive jaundice and urinary tract infection. The contrast enhancing computed
tomography of the abdomen revealed the presence of saccular mycotic aneurysm located at the
infrarenal abdominal aorta. The blood culture grew Salmonella Enteritidis which was susceptible to
ceftriaxone, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, ampicillin, and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid.
Intravenous ceftriaxone was initiated, and he underwent open surgery and artery repair at day 8 of
admission. He responded well to the treatment given and subsequently discharged home after completed
three weeks of intravenous ceftriaxone.
3.Non-bacteremia liver abscess caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei from a tertiary teaching hospital in Malaysia: a case report and literature review
Wahab, A.A. ; Nurazizah, S.M.A. ; Ding, C.H. ; Muttaqillah, N.A.S. ; Nordashima, A.S. ; Kori, N. ; Periyasamy, P.
Tropical Biomedicine 2023;40(No.3):290-294
Melioidosis is endemic in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia. Liver abscess is not uncommon in
melioidosis, but it is usually associated with bacteremia. We presented a case of a 55-year-old gentleman
with underlying end-stage renal failure who presented with non-specific abdominal pain for three
months. Initial blood investigations showed leukocytosis and increased C-reactive protein. Computed
tomography (CT) of the abdomen revealed multiple hypodense lesions in the liver and spleen. The culture
of the liver specimen obtained through the ultrasound-guided isolated Burkholderia pseudomallei. He
was given an adjusted dose of intravenous ceftazidime due to underlying renal failure. Melioidosis
serology also returned positive for IgM with titer >1:1280. His blood cultures were reported negative
three times. Despite on antibiotics for five weeks, there was no significant improvement of the liver
abscesses was observed. He was unfortunately infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus during his admission
and passed away due to severe COVID-19 pneumonia.