A rare case of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in a giant pancreatic pseudocyst.

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic pseudocysts are known sequelae of acute and chronic pancreatitis and are typically sterile. Superinfection is not uncommon, but isolation of Streptococcus pneumoniae is exceedingly rare.

CASE PRESENTATION: We report a 32-year-old immunocompetent male with a background of chronic alcohol-related pancreatitis presenting with worsening abdominal pain and early satiety. Imaging revealed a large pseudocyst. Laparoscopic transgastric cystogastrostomy with cholecystectomy was performed, and culture of aspirated cyst fluid yielded Streptococcus pneumoniae. The patient recovered uneventfully on targeted antibiotic therapy.

CONCLUSION

This case illustrates the importance of microbiological evaluation of pseudocyst fluid and highlights an unusual presentation of S. pneumoniae superinfection in a pancreatic pseudocyst.