Edwardsiella tarda Bacteremia With Tubo-Ovarian Abscess

Abstract

Abstract Edwardsiella tarda infection is infrequently encountered in humans. Exposure most often occurs through consumption of raw seafood or activities in bodies of fresh or brackish water, and systemic infections can have a high mortality rate. We present the case of a 32-year-old woman who presented with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. She was septic and was started on broad-spectrum antibiotics after cultures were drawn. Imaging showed pyosalpinx/tubo-ovarian abscess that was refractory to systemic antibiotics and ultimately required surgical management. Two blood cultures and an intraoperative abscess culture grew pan-susceptible E. tarda. Postoperatively, the patient's clinical status quickly improved, and she was doing well at her follow-up visit. To the best of our knowledge, cases of E. tarda bacteremia in the setting of tubo-ovarian abscess have not previously been reported, and this case is particularly unusual in that the patient is young and without predisposing chronic medical conditions.