08/03/2025
[Case Sharing – Daily Hospital Routine]
Today, I helped my colleague with patient rounds and encountered a hospitalized male patient in his 60s. He has a history of abdominal lymphoma and was discharged after chemotherapy just before the Lunar New Year. This time, he was hospitalized due to a liver abscess and is currently receiving antibiotic treatment.
The liver is responsible for detoxification and killing bacteria in the body. The presence of a liver abscess indicates a severely weakened immune system, often caused by conditions such as diabetes, chronic liver disease, gallstones, liver cysts, long-term use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), immunosuppression (e.g., cancer treatment), or even colorectal cancer. Since this patient is undergoing cancer treatment, his immune system is compromised, making him more susceptible to bacterial infections. In such cases, due to low immunity, patients may not develop typical symptoms such as fever or chills, which is often described as "the fever doesn’t rise" or "the fever is trapped inside."
I asked the patient about his symptoms at the time. He replied:
"I have a habit of checking my blood pressure every morning. That day, when I woke up, my systolic pressure was only 60, which felt unusual. I told my family and rushed to the emergency room... I only felt very tired, but nothing else seemed wrong."
At the ER, the patient’s body temperature was normal, and he had no abdominal pain or chills.
His liver abscess measured 5.3 cm, and the drained pus culture revealed two types of bacterial infections. His white blood cell count dropped below 2,000, and he had low blood pressure (only 60 mmHg), indicating severe sepsis. Fortunately, he was highly aware of the dangers of low blood pressure and sought medical attention in time.
I asked him, "What exactly did you eat? You have two different bacteria this time!"
He replied, "Since I got sick, I’ve been very careful with my diet. I avoid raw and cold foods, as well as sweets. But during the Lunar New Year, my family specially prepared abalone and shrimp for me. When I ate them, I felt like they weren’t fully steamed... 😨 Maybe that’s the cause..."
During the Lunar New Year, many families prepare frozen seafood dishes. Some are fresh, while others may not be. It’s crucial to ensure proper cleaning and thorough cooking, as contaminated food can not only cause gastroenteritis but also allow bacteria to travel through the bile ducts to the liver, forming abscesses.
With the upcoming days being a peak time for reheating leftovers, people with weakened health should be extra cautious and not overexert themselves!
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