A RECENT case study reveals a rare infection caused by Enterococcus cecorum, a bacterium typically associated with poultry, in a renal transplant recipient. The patient developed bacteremia, a potentially life-threatening condition, 14 years post-transplant, with the possible source being pet parrots. Enterococcus cecorum is not typically found in the human intestinal tract, making this infection especially uncommon, with fewer than 10 documented cases in humans worldwide.
Enterococcus cecorum is a gram-positive coccus, primarily residing in the gastrointestinal tracts of farm animals, particularly chickens. The bacterium is not a commensal organism in humans, distinguishing it from more common enterococcal species like E. faecalis and E. faecium. The infection, while rare, has led to serious complications in previous cases, including septicemia, endocarditis, empyema, and peritonitis. Most patients reported in the literature had underlying immune-compromising conditions, such as organ transplants, that predispose them to severe infections.
This case highlights the risk posed to renal transplant recipients, whose immunocompromised status makes them vulnerable to infections from uncommon sources. In this patient, the likely route of infection was traced to exposure to pet parrots, underscoring the importance of maintaining vigilance in post-transplant care, particularly in relation to animals that could harbor zoonotic pathogens. The study also adds to the growing body of literature on Enterococcus cecorum in humans and may prompt healthcare professionals to consider it as a potential pathogen when faced with unusual bacteremia in immunocompromised patients.
This report also provides a comprehensive review of the literature, examining the clinical outcomes of previous cases of E. cecorum infection in humans, offering valuable insights for clinicians managing transplant patients and other immunocompromised individuals.
Reference:
Mani V et al. A case of Enterococcus cecorum in a renal transplant recipient and literature review. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2025. doi: 10.1007/s10096-025-05190-w.
