Rapidly Progressive, Fata Infection Caused by Bacillus Cereus in a Patient with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: We herein report a fatal case of fulminant septicemia caused by Bacillus cereus in a 49-year-old female with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia receiving chemotherapy. METHODS: Her two blood culture sets were positive for Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium. Bacillus cereus was identified by high-throughput MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. RESULTS: The patient died within 12 hours from the onset of B cereus infection. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with acute leukemia presented with fever and unexplained multiple organ lesions, especially accompanied by CNS symptoms, should alert to the possibility of Bacillus cereus infection.