Pancytopenia Unraveled: Tracing Rare Cardiobacterium hominis Bacteremia Back to the Gut

TL;DR

This paper reports the first case of pancytopenia caused by rare Cardiobacterium hominis bacteremia, likely triggered by a gut-related procedure.

Contribution

First documented case of pancytopenia linked to C. hominis bacteremia.

Findings

Pancytopenia was secondary to C. hominis bacteremia in an elderly male.

The infection likely originated from the gut following an endoscopic procedure.

Early recognition of subclinical bacteremia is crucial for timely diagnosis.

Abstract

Cardiobacterium hominis (C. hominis) is part of the normal flora of the human oropharynx. Although uncommon, it is a significant cause of endocarditis, particularly in individuals with pre-existing valvular heart disease. The combination of its rarity, prolonged blood culture incubation time, and nonspecific clinical presentation makes C. hominis infections particularly challenging to diagnose. We present the first known published case of pancytopenia secondary to C. hominis bacteremia in an elderly male, likely incited by a gastrointestinal endoscopic procedure. We discuss the importance of recognizing signs of subclinical bacteremia and maintaining a broad differential for pancytopenia for timely diagnosis and management.

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