06-09-2024 | Antibiotic | Case Report
An underdog under the mandible: Pantoea agglomerans abscess of the submandibular region- a case report
Published in: European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology
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Background
Pantoea agglomerans is a gram negative, aerobic/facultative anaerobic, rod shaped bacilli commonly isolated from plants, soil, food and faeces.(1) It is a rare cause of opportunistic infections in humans acquired mainly via two major routes being, wound infection or hospital acquired.
Case Report
Here, we encountered a landmark, first of its kind, head and neck manifestation of a cervical soft tissue abscess with Pantoea agglomerans being the miscreant. The patient presented with complaints of a left sided neck swelling, which was radiologically suggestive of a cold abscess, however clinical suscpicion encouraged us to perform an incision and drainage, culture of which revealed this notorious phytogenic bacterium.
Discussion
Commonly encountered Pantoea infected cases documented in literature have shown a clinical picture of endophthalmitis, acute unilateral dacryocystitis, periostitis, endocarditis, osteomyelitis and a tumour like muscle cyst of the thigh with many of them eventually leading to septicemia while a few also resolved with targeted antibiotics.(2) Remarkably, no ENT or head and neck presentations have been reported in literature till date. History of trauma by brushing against a mango tree was confirmed retrospectively, which was found to be the missing piece of the puzzle.