Podcast # 468: Typhlitis

Educational Pearls:

• Tiflitis refers to the presence of enterocolitis in the setting of neutropenia - also known as neutropenic enterocolitis
• Commonly a result of chemotherapy for hematologic malignancies.
• The infection is usually polymicrobial/fungal and can lead to septic shock
• Usually presents with fever, abdominal pain, with associated GI complaints
• Workup includes CBC for the ANC (usually <500), and a CT abdomen (look for bowel thickening)
• Treatment typically with broad-spectrum antibiotics with or without anti-fungal agents
• Mortality can be as high as 50%

References

Cloutier RL. Neutropenic enterocolitis. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2009 Aug;27(3):415-22. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2009.04.002. PubMed PMID: 19646645.

Rodrigues FG, Dasilva G, Wexner SD. Neutropenic enterocolitis. World J Gastroenterol.2017 Jan 7;23(1):42-47. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i1.42. Review. PubMed PMID: 28104979; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5221285.

Summarized by Will Dewispelaere, MS3 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD