Infection with Yersinia enterocolitica in a Patient with beta-Thalassemia

 

Risk factors for infection with Yersinia enterocolitica in a patient with beta-thalassemia:

(1) iron overload

(2) possibly therapy with deferoxamine (which may just reflect iron overload)

(3) exposure to poorly cooked pork or other dietary sources

(4) possibly recent blood transfusion (within the past 10 days)

 

Common complaints in a patient with beta-thalassemia and yersiniosis:

(1) fever

(2) pharyngitis

(3) right lower quadrant pain (bacterial ileocecitis)

(4) diarrhea

 

Infections caused by Yersinia enterocolitica in a patient with beta-thalassemia include:

(1) bacteremia

(2) abscess (liver, other)

(3) lymphadenitis

(4) peritonitis or other intra-abdominal infection (especially if the body iron burden is high)

(5) pneumonia

(6) osteomyelitis

(7) meningitis

(8) pericarditis