Volume 2025, Issue 1 7154542

Case Report

Open Access

Capnocytophaga sputigena Causing Complicated Sinusitis With Intracranial Involvement in a Pediatric Patient

Karan Gandhi,

Karan Gandhi

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery , Western University , London , Ontario, Canada , uwo.ca

Search for more papers by this author

Chloe Pulver,

Chloe Pulver

orcid.org/0009-0009-4640-440X

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery , Western University , London , Ontario, Canada , uwo.ca

Search for more papers by this author

Lucas D. D. Foster,

Lucas D. D. Foster

Department of Ophthalmology , Western University , London , Ontario, Canada , uwo.ca

Search for more papers by this author

David Plemel,

David Plemel

Department of Ophthalmology , Western University , London , Ontario, Canada , uwo.ca

Search for more papers by this author

Nancy Nashid,

Nancy Nashid

Department of Pediatrics , Western University , London , Ontario, Canada , uwo.ca

Search for more papers by this author

Keng Tay,

Keng Tay

Department of Radiology , Western University , London , Ontario, Canada , uwo.ca

Search for more papers by this author

Julie E. Strychowsky,

Corresponding Author

Julie E. Strychowsky

[email protected]

orcid.org/0000-0001-5460-3155

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery , Western University , London , Ontario, Canada , uwo.ca

Search for more papers by this author

Karan Gandhi,

Karan Gandhi

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery , Western University , London , Ontario, Canada , uwo.ca

Search for more papers by this author

Chloe Pulver,

Chloe Pulver

orcid.org/0009-0009-4640-440X

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery , Western University , London , Ontario, Canada , uwo.ca

Search for more papers by this author

Lucas D. D. Foster,

Lucas D. D. Foster

Department of Ophthalmology , Western University , London , Ontario, Canada , uwo.ca

Search for more papers by this author

David Plemel,

David Plemel

Department of Ophthalmology , Western University , London , Ontario, Canada , uwo.ca

Search for more papers by this author

Nancy Nashid,

Nancy Nashid

Department of Pediatrics , Western University , London , Ontario, Canada , uwo.ca

Search for more papers by this author

Keng Tay,

Keng Tay

Department of Radiology , Western University , London , Ontario, Canada , uwo.ca

Search for more papers by this author

Julie E. Strychowsky,

Corresponding Author

Julie E. Strychowsky

[email protected]

orcid.org/0000-0001-5460-3155

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery , Western University , London , Ontario, Canada , uwo.ca

Search for more papers by this author

First published: 20 June 2025

https://doi.org/10.1155/crot/7154542

Academic Editor: Rong-San Jiang

Share a link

Email
Wechat
Bluesky

Abstract

This report presents a rare case of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis with orbital and intracranial complications caused by Capnocytophaga sputigena in a pediatric patient. A 15-year-old male presented with orbital cellulitis, acute sinusitis, and meningismus. Brain imaging showed evidence of early intracranial abscess formation and areas of cerebral infarction. He underwent urgent endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) and drainage of an orbital subperiosteal abscess. This case underscores the critical role of timely diagnostic imaging, multidisciplinary care, appropriate surgical management, and effective culture-directed antimicrobial therapy in treating sinusitis and its complications.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Open Research

Data Availability Statement

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study.

References

1 Desrosiers M., Evans G. A., Keith P. K. et al., Canadian Clinical Practice Guidelines for Acute and Chronic Rhinosinusitis, Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology. (2011) 7, no. 1, https://doi.org/10.1186/1710-1492-7-2, 2-s2.0-80051616626.
10.1186/1710-1492-7-2
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
2 Chow A. W., Benninger M. S., Brook I. et al., IDSA Clinical Practice Guideline for Acute Bacterial Rhinosinusitis in Children and Adults, Clinical Infectious Diseases. (2012) 54, no. 8, e72–e112, https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/cis370, 2-s2.0-84859067795.
10.1093/cid/cis370
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
3 Sinus and Allergy Health Partnership, Jacobs M. R., Poole M. D. et al., Antimicrobial Treatment Guidelines for Acute Bacterial Rhinosinusitis, Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery. (2004) 130, no. S1, 1–45, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.otohns.2003.12.003.
10.1016/j.otohns.2003.12.003
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
4 Bonatti H., Rossboth D. W., Nachbaur D. et al., A Series of Infections Due to Capnocytophaga Spp in Immunosuppressed and Immunocompetent Patients, Clinical Microbiology and Infection. (2003) 9, no. 5, 380–387, https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1469-0691.2003.00538.x, 2-s2.0-20244369224.
10.1046/j.1469-0691.2003.00538.x
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
5 Daigle P., Lee M. H., Flores M., Campisi P., and DeAngelis D., Capnocytophaga sputigena as a Cause of Severe Orbital Cellulitis and Subperiosteal Abscess in a Child, Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology. (2021) 56, no. 3, e90–e92, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjo.2020.10.012.
10.1016/j.jcjo.2020.10.012
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
6 Oxford L. E. and McClay J., Complications of Acute Sinusitis in Children, Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery. (2005) 133, no. 1, 32–37, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.otohns.2005.03.020, 2-s2.0-22144484531.
10.1016/j.otohns.2005.03.020
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
7 Carr T. F., Complications of Sinusitis, American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy. (2016) 30, no. 4, 241–245, https://doi.org/10.2500/ajra.2016.30.4322, 2-s2.0-84979692036.
10.2500/ajra.2016.30.4322
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
8 Levy D. A., Pecha P. P., Nguyen S. A., and Schlosser R. J., Trends in Complications of Pediatric Rhinosinusitis in the United States From 2006 to 2016, International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. (2020) 128, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijporl.2019.109695.
10.1016/j.ijporl.2019.109695
Web of Science® Google Scholar
9 Patel N. A., Garber D., Hu S., and Kamat A., Systematic Review and Case Report: Intracranial Complications of Pediatric Sinusitis, International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. (2016) 86, 200–212, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijporl.2016.05.009, 2-s2.0-84969577527.
10.1016/j.ijporl.2016.05.009
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
10 Chang Y. S., Chen P. L., Hung J. H. et al., Orbital Complications of Paranasal Sinusitis in Taiwan, 1988 Through 2015: Acute Ophthalmological Manifestations, Diagnosis, and Management, PLoS One. (2017) 12, no. 10, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0184477, 2-s2.0-85030651490.
10.1371/journal.pone.0184477
Web of Science® Google Scholar
11 Oxford L. E. and McClay J., Medical and Surgical Management of Subperiosteal Orbital Abscess Secondary to Acute Sinusitis in Children, International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. (2006) 70, no. 11, 1853–1861, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijporl.2006.05.012, 2-s2.0-33749556176.
10.1016/j.ijporl.2006.05.012
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
12 Yosefof E., Reuven Y., Badir S. et al., Predictors for Surgical Intervention in Orbital Complications of Pediatric Rhinosinusitis, European Journal of Ophthalmology. (2023) 33, no. 5, 1867–1873, https://doi.org/10.1177/11206721231156987.
10.1177/11206721231156987
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
13 Saltagi M. Z., Rabbani C. C., Patel K. S. et al., Orbital Complications of Acute Sinusitis in Pediatric Patients: Management of Chandler III Patients, Allergy & Rhinology. (2022) 13, https://doi.org/10.1177/21526575221097311.
10.1177/21526575221097311
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
14 Aryasit O., Aunruan S., and Sanghan N., Predictors of Surgical Intervention and Visual Outcome in Bacterial Orbital Cellulitis, Medicine (United States). (2021) 100, no. 25, https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000026166.
10.1097/MD.0000000000026166
Google Scholar
15 Patt B. S. and Manning S. C., Blindness Resulting From Orbital Complications of Sinusitis, Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. (1991) 104, no. 6, 789–795, https://doi.org/10.1177/019459989110400604, 2-s2.0-0025995759.
10.1177/019459989110400604
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
16 Manning S. C., Endoscopic Management of Medial Subperiosteal Orbital Abscess, Archives of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery. (1993) 119, no. 7, 789–791, https://doi.org/10.1001/archotol.1993.01880190085018, 2-s2.0-0027196506.
10.1001/archotol.1993.01880190085018
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
17 Migirov L., Yakirevitch A., Bedrin L., and Wolf M., Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Medial Orbital Subperiosteal Abscess in Children, Journal of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery. (2009) 38, no. 4, 504–508.
Web of Science® Google Scholar
18 Gavriel H., Jabrin B., and Eviatar E., Management of Superior Subperiosteal Orbital Abscess, European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology. (2016) 273, no. 1, 145–150, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-015-3557-1, 2-s2.0-84953359183.
10.1007/s00405-015-3557-1
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
19 Jolivet-Gougeon A., Sixou J. L., Tamanai-Shacoori Z., and Bonnaure-Mallet M., Antimicrobial Treatment of Capnocytophaga Infections, International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents. (2007) 29, no. 4, 367–373, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2006.10.005, 2-s2.0-33847349707.
10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2006.10.005
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar

All articles

Capnocytophaga sputigena Causing Complicated Sinusitis With Intracranial Involvement in a Pediatric Patient

Abstract

Conflicts of Interest

Open Research

Data Availability Statement

References

Figures

References

Information

About Wiley Online Library

Help & Support

Opportunities

Connect with Wiley

Capnocytophaga sputigena Causing Complicated Sinusitis With Intracranial Involvement in a Pediatric Patient

Abstract

Conflicts of Interest

Open Research

Data Availability Statement

References

Figures

References

Related

Information