Septicemia due to Yersinia enterocolitica in a long-term hemodialysis patient after a single desferrioxamine administration.

A long-term hemodialysis male patient was known to have systemic iron overload due to regular blood transfusions. As he was suspected to have aluminum overload, he received a single intravenous administration of desferrioxamine (that supported the hypothesis). Four days later, he became highly febrile with no focus of infection on physical examination. All blood cultures yielded Yersinia enterocolitica. The aim of this case report is to recall the potential risk of Yersinia sepsis in iron overload patients treated with desferrioxamine, even for a short time. The diagnosis should be suspected even in the absence of digestive symptoms, leading to immediate desferrioxamine withdrawal and antibiotic therapy.