A 94-year-old male with type 2 diabetes mellitus and pancytopenia presented with fever, cough, and dyspnea, leading to a diagnosis of bronchopneumonia. Blood cultures identified Capnocytophaga sputigena, a rare cause of bacteremia, which was confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The patient, despite initial improvement with meropenem, ultimately succumbed to his illness. This case highlights the importance of considering unusual pathogens like C. sputigena in immunocompromised elderly patients with severe infections, especially when associated with oral flora or underlying comorbidities.
Key note: Capnocytophaga sputigena should be considered in severe infections in immunocompromised elderly patients, particularly with oral comorbidities.