Clostridium butyricum sepsis in an injection drug user with an indwelling central venous catheter

1 Denver Public Health Department, Denver Health and Hospital Authority, 605 Bannock Street, Denver, CO 80204, USA 2 Department of Medicine, Denver Health and Hospital Authority, 605 Bannock Street, Denver, CO 80204, USA 3 Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, 4200 East Ninth Avenue, Denver, CO 80262, USA Correspondence Edward M. Gardner edward.gardner{at}dhha.org Received 17 August 2007 Accepted 9 October 2007 Clostridium novyi has been associated with a large outbreak of severe infections in injection drug users. A case of bacteraemia with Clostridium butyricum in an injection drug user is reported. During treatment for Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis, the patient used an indwelling central venous catheter to inject cocaine. He was admitted with C. butyricum sepsis that responded to broad spectrum antibiotics, including vancomycin. Local investigation for other cases was unrevealing; however, growth of an unusual pathogen in clinical specimens should be investigated as it may represent a sentinel event with public health implications. Abbreviations: CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; MSSA, meticillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus ; UCH, University of Colorado Hospital.