Recurrent Methylobacterium mesophilicum sepsis associated with haemodialysis

Identification of culturable bacteria present in haemodialysis water and fluid

“…We consider the culture of pathogenic bacteria or opportunistic pathogens, together with their identification, as fundamental element for the health-risk assessment of haemodialysis water. The following species or genera isolated in this study have been described previously as causative agents of infections or related to pyrogenic reactions during dialysis sessions: Acinetobacter, Afipia bromeae, Bacillus cereus, Brevibacterium (infections of catheters in peritoneal dialysis), Methylobacterium (sepsis associated with haemodialysis), Mycobacterium abscessus and M. mucogenicum (peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis), M. chelonae (infections in haemodialysis, contamination of laboratory reagents in hospitals), and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia [6,28]. Their prevalence in hospitals might be attributed to contaminated water supplies.…”

Methylobacterium mesophilicum cellulitis and lymphangitis following a dog bite

“…M. mesophilicum has been increasingly isolated from cases of opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients and infections associated with contaminated devices [10][11][12]. Sanders et al [11] have reviewed a series 30 cases of infection with M. mesophilicum.…”

The Family Methylobacteriaceae

“…A frequent isolate from infected patients has been Mtb mesophilicum (Engler and Norton 2001;Holton et al 1990;Kaye et al 1992;Sanders et al 2000), which has also been shown as the cause of a postoperative septicemia case (Barriere et al 2008). Other species (including Mtb radiotolerans, Mtb aminovorans, Mtb thiocyanatum, Mtb extorquens, Mtb zatmanii, Mtb fujisawaense, Mtb lusitanum, and Mtb podarium) have also been reported (Borsali et al 2011;Fanci et al 2010;Furuhata et al 2006;Hornei et al 1999;Lai et al 2011;Truant et al 1998), with Mtb extorquens earning the clinical nickname ''the red phantom'' (Holton et al 1990).…”

“…Methylobacterium strains have been increasingly reported as infectious agents in humans (Borsali et al 2011;Holton et al 1990;Lambert et al 1983;Sanders et al 2000;Truant et al 1998), with 30 clinical cases reviewed by Sanders et al (2000). Clinically recovered Methylobacterium strains are typically regarded as opportunistic pathogens in immunocompromised patients, such as those on chemotherapy (Engler and Norton 2001;Sanders et al 2000), and with immunosuppression due to alcoholism, renal failure, diabetes, tuberculosis, or (uncommonly) from patients with no previous underlying clinical condition (Gilardi and Faur 1984;Lai et al 2011;Lambert et al 1983;Liu et al 1997;Strazzi et al 1992;Truant et al 1998). Symptoms due to Methylobacterium infections range from bacteremia, fever, sepsis, empyema, pneumonia, peritonitis, to eye or urinary tract infection (Borsali et al 2011;Brown et al 1996;Fernandez et al 1997;Furuhata et al 2006;Hiraishi et al 1995;Lee et al 2004;Sanders et al 2000).…”