<i>Chromobacterium haemolyticum</i> Pneumonia Possibly Due to the Aspiration of Runoff Water

Abstract

SUMMARY:Here, we report a case of pneumonia possibly caused by the aspiration of runoff water containing Chromobacterium haemolyticum. A 69-year-old man became intoxicated with alcohol, fell into a ditch, and lost consciousness after suffering a blow to the head. The lower half of his body was completely paralyzed because of damage to his spinal cord, and he aspirated runoff water from the ditch. Chest computed tomography scans revealed consolidation in the right upper lobe and bilateral lower lobes. A sputum culture detected gram-negative bacteria that was identified as C. haemolyticum. Antibacterial chemotherapy was initiated, and the clinical course was favorable. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of C. haemolyticum pneumonia in the literature.

Chromobacterium haemolyticum Pneumonia Associated with Near-Drowning and River Water, Japan

“…This severe case of drowning-associated pneumonia and bacteremia due to C. haemolyticum was successfully treated with appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Previously, 5 clinical cases of C. haemolyticum infections had been reported, including sputum colonization, necrotizing fasciitis with bacteremia, proctocolitis, pneumonia, and pediatric bacteremia ( 2 , 4 , 7 – 9 ). All patients, including the patient we report, survived after antimicrobial treatment.…”

“…All patients, including the patient we report, survived after antimicrobial treatment. Intravenous antimicrobial therapy, such as meropenem or fluoroquinolone, is recommended for C. haemolyticum infections ( 7 , 9 ). The role of prolonged therapy for C. haemolyticum infections remains unclear, but in C. violaceum infections, an oral agent such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, or fluoroquinolone for 2–3 months can be used to prevent relapse ( 6 ).…”

“…Only 2 reports of cases with C. haemolyticum infections in temperate regions of Japan have been published ( 7 , 9 ). One study reported necrotizing fasciitis associated with exposure to river water after injury.…”

“…Most Chromobacterium infections in humans have been caused by C. violaceum ( 6 ). Recently, exceptionally rare cases of C. haemolyticum infections have been described ( 2 , 4 , 7 – 9 ), but environmental sources of this pathogen have not been well investigated. We describe a case of Chromobacterium -associated pneumonia due to near-drowning and environmental investigation of a river site of the near-drowning.…”

Outbreak of Fatal Piglet Diarrhea Caused by Chromobacterium haemolyticum in China

“…C. haemolyticum has been isolated from a variety of water environments, such as rice roots, lakes, rivers, and sewage efuent [4][5][6]. Tere is evidence that C. haemolyticum is mainly transmitted through water sources, and some reports suggest that C. haemolyticum can cause pneumonia and sepsis in humans, and the patients in these cases have a history of wound exposure or contact with water sources, indicating that C. haemolyticum maybe an opportunistic pathogen [7,8]. Tere also have been reports of diarrhea cases in humans that were related to C. haemolyticum, but C. haemolyticum causing diarrhea or even death in other animals has not been reported yet [9].…”