Increased recognition of Chryseobacterium species as an emerging cause of nosocomial infection at a tertiary care centre in Mangalore

Abstract

Background: Chryseobacterium is an environmental inhabitant which is periodically discovered in human specimens. It is one of the prominent pathogens among non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli. The members of Chryseobacterium genus are mainly noted for their multi-drug resistance. Materials and Methods: Patients admitted in tertiary care centre were examined for 6 months. Chryseobacterium species were isolated from different clinical samples using conventional methods (according to CLSI guidelines) and antibiotic susceptibility patterns were obtained. This study also comprised of associated underlying risk factors, comorbidities and eventually the treatment outcome. Results: A total of 9 isolates of C. indologenes were recovered from specific samples like urine, sputum, pus and ascitic fluid. Among which, four patients had respiratory tract infection, one had chronic liver disease, two had wound infection and in other two, the organism was isolated from the sample of catheterized urine. The two patients were in the intensive care unit and had central lines and indwelling catheter. The common underlying risk factors identified were diabetes, hypertension and coronary artery disease. Conclusion: This case concludes that C. indologenes may cause symptomatic disease in immunocompetent persons with otherwise no associated underlying risk factors.