Lactococcus lactis ssp lactis a rare cause of liver abscesses: A case report and literature review

INTRODUCTION: We present a liver abscess due to Lactococcus lactis ssp lactis. CASE PRESENTATION: It is a 27-year-old male patient without history who presented the right hypochondrium pain over 10 days. The physical examination noted right hypochondrium pain and hépatomegally. The ultrasound showed hepatomegaly with liver abcess for the segments IV and V as well as VII and VIII measuring 13 × 8 cm and 7.6 × 4.3 cm respectively. A computed tomography (CT) revealed an abscess for segments IV and V and VI and VII measuring respectively 107 × 89 mm and 55 × 50 mm. He underwent a surgical drainage after a radiologic drainage and antibiotherapy failure with success. DISCUSSION: Liver abscesses are rare; affect men over 60 years with co-morbidities and those due to L. Lactis ssp lactis are exceptional. Their prevalence is 0.29–1.47% in series of autopsies and 0.008 to 0.16% in hospitalized patients. The most frequently found germs are gram-negative bacilli (40–60%) and anaerobic bacteria (40–50%). Ultrasound and CT scan make the diagnosis in 90% of cases and orients to the etiology. Percutaneous drainage is the first line for treatment, surgical drainage is reserved for percutaneous drainage failures. CONCLUSION: Liver abscess due to Lactococcus lactis ssp lactis is very rare. The clinic, diagnostic methods and treatment of this abscess are identical to other abscesses due to other etiologies. The antibiotics and percutaneous drainage of abscesses have improved the death rate from 40% to 10%–25%.