Yersinia Is Not Just the Plague: A Case Report of Yersiniosis Caused by Yersinia enterocolitica.

Yersinia enterocolitica is a Gram-negative bacterium that typically causes self-limiting gastrointestinal infections but can sometimes lead to systemic complications, particularly in immunocompromised hosts. This report describes a rare case of a 60-year-old farmer who developed enteric bacteremia, renal impairment, and pulmonary manifestations, likely due to the consumption of undercooked pork. Despite lacking common predisposing factors, the patient presented with a sore throat, joint pain, abdominal discomfort, and a characteristic erythematous rash. Extensive diagnostic workup, including blood cultures and autoimmune screening, yielded negative results. However, stool culture eventually identified Y. enterocolitica as the causative agent. The patient experienced worsening kidney function, respiratory distress, and significant abdominal findings on imaging, prompting consultations across multiple specialties. Treatment with doxycycline and amoxicillin led to clinical improvement, and the patient's renal function returned to baseline. This case highlights the potential for Y. enterocolitica to cause rare and severe extra-intestinal manifestations, including pulmonary involvement, in an immunocompetent host, underscoring the importance of considering this pathogen in differential diagnoses of systemic infections.