Clinical features and outcomes of critically ill patients with Elizabethkingia meningoseptica: an emerging pathogenBackground: Elizabethkingia meningoseptica, formerly known as Chryseobacterium meningosepticum, is a non-motile, non-fastidious, catalase and oxidase-positive, aerobic, glucosenon-fermentative, Gram-negative bacillus that was first defined by Elizabeth O. King in 1959. It has emerged as an opportunistic pathogen that has infected patients in extreme age groups and immunocompromised individuals, especially in intensive care settings. There has been an increased interest in this pathogen due to its increasing occurrence around the world, ubiquitous nature, and inherent capacity for antimicrobial resistance. Methods: We describe an observational study at a tertiary care center in Karachi, Pakistan, based on patients admitted between January 2013 and December 2018, with E. meningoseptica infections. All patients were confirmed to have a positive clinical culture specimen for E. meningoseptica along with symptoms and signs consistent with infection. Data were collected on a structured proforma from the Hospital Information Management Systems. Results: Sixteen patients with E. meningoseptica that met the criteria for infection were identified, 13 of whom required admission. Eight patients had bacteremia in addition to confirmed E. meningoseptica infection. Two of the isolates were multi-drug resistant and only sensitive to minocycline. Nine out of 13 patients that were admitted required intubation and mechanical ventilation. The median length of hospital stay was 13 days, and five out of the 13 patients died during the hospital stay. Conclusion: This is the largest case series to date reporting E. meningoseptica infections and highlights the importance of this organism as an emerging nosocomial pathogen.

Background:Elizabethkingia meningoseptica, formerly known as Chryseobacterium meningosepticum, is a non-motile, non-fastidious, catalase and oxidase-positive, aerobic, glucose-non-fermentative Gram-negative bacillus first defined by Elizabeth O. King in 1959. It has recently emerged as an opportunistic pathogen infecting people in the the extremes of age and the immunocompromised, especially in nosocomial settings. There has been an increased interest in this pathogen due to its rising occurrence around the world, its ubiquity in nature, and inherent capacity for antimicrobial resistance.Methods: We describe a retrospective case series at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan on patients admitted from January 2013 to December 2018 with Elizabethkingia meningoseptica infections. All patients identified to have any clinical culture specimen positive for Elizabethkingia meningoseptica were included. Data was collected on a structured proforma from the Hospital Information Management Systems (HIMS).Results:Sixteen patients with E. meningoseptica were identified. The mean Charlson’s co-morbidity index was 3.25. Nine patients had bacteremia with E. meningosepticum. Three of the isolates were extensively drug resistant with sensitivity only to minocycline. Nine out of 16 patients required intubation and mechanical ventilation. The median length of hospital stay was 13 days and four out of 16 patients died during hospital stay,Conclusion: This is the first case series from Pakistan reporting Elizabethkingia meningoseptica infections.