Serious consequence caused by an ordinary event- septicopyemia developed from thorns of a cockroach pricking finger: A case report

Objective To report the diagnosis and treatment of septicopyemia developing from cockroach thorns pricking finger. Methods A male patient, aged 52 years old, with abdominal pain for 4 days and elevation of transaminase for 3 days, admitted to emergency department of Beijing Shijitan Hospital in April 2015. Careful history-taking showed that a finger of the patient was accidently pricked by cockroach leg's thorns without being treated at 6 h before admission. Results The patient was treated successively in emergency department and department of gastroenterology. The laboratory tests displayed remarkable elevation in white blood cells, neutrophil, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, total bilirubin and procalcitonin. Blood culture showed Escherichia coli and the allergen intradermal test result was ++ to cockroach. Additionally, the patient had allergic rhinitis for 10 years. So the diagnosis of septicopyemia was established. Comprehensive therapies including antiinfection, liver-protecting and fluid infusion were given for 15 days and the patient with recovery was discharged from hospital. Conclusion Serious consequences may occur after being pricked by cockroach's thorns, which should be emphasized in the process of history-taking and diagnosis of patients with septicopyemia.