Pyogenic Hepatic Abscess in an Immunocompetent Patient With Poor Oral Health and COVID-19 Infection.

Abstract

Background: Pyogenic hepatic abscess (PHA) is a collection of pus in the liver caused by bacterial infection of the liver parenchyma. PHA is more common in immunosuppressed individuals and those with diabetes mellitus, cancer, and liver transplant.

Case presentation: We present a rare case of PHA with Fusobacterium nucleatum in an immunocompetent patient with poor oral health, history of diverticulitis, and recent COVID-19 infection whose only symptoms were chest pain and a 4-week history of fever and malaise. The source of infection in this patient was likely dental caries and periodontal disease, with COVID-19 infection playing a role as a red herring in this patient's disease progression, delaying diagnosis.

Conclusions: Diagnosis and treatment of PHA must be prompt with drainage and empiric anaerobic coverage followed by a more tailored antibiotic regimen if indicated by culture and further drainage if indicated by computed tomography.