Liver Abscess: Think Outside the Box

TL;DR

Liver abscesses can be the first sign of chronic granulomatous disease, a rare immune disorder, requiring accurate diagnosis for better treatment outcomes.

Contribution

Highlights liver abscess recurrence as a potential early indicator of chronic granulomatous disease in adults.

Findings

A 37-year-old male with recurrent liver abscess was diagnosed with chronic granulomatous disease.

Staphylococcus aureus was identified as the causative pathogen in the liver abscess.

Treatment included corticosteroids, antibiotics, and standard care to improve prognosis.

Abstract

Liver abscesses are a relatively common pathology, especially in adults, and are usually secondary to intrabdominal infections. In patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), a rare primary immune deficiency, they may represent the main or even first manifestation of the disease. Clinical suspicion should be raised especially in recurrent forms and when typical pathogens are implicated. We report the case of a 37-year-old male who presented febrile, with recurrence of a liver abscess caused by Staphylococcus aureus, and was treated with corticosteroids, besides targeted antibiotics and standard of care. Accurate diagnosis of the underlying medical condition is crucial to apply a more adequate treatment and ensure better short- and long-term prognosis.

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