Achromobacter xylosoxidans/denitrificans bacteremia and subsequent fatal Escherichia coli/Streptococcus anginosus pleural empyema

Fungal pneumonia concealing bacterial pneumonia: a diagnostic dilemma

We describe the case of a 61-year-old diabetic man affected by Achromobacter denitrificans. He was immunocompetent and did not have any past history of chronic lung disease. The patient was treated with sensitive antibiotic meropenem 1 g, three times daily. To our knowledge, only one case of A. denitrificans pneumonia has been reported from the Indian subcontinent in an individual with underlying lung disease and none in a healthy person.

Sepsis Due to Achromobacter xylosoxidans in a Tertiary Care Centre: Case Series

Achromobacter xylosoxidans, also known as Alcaligenes xylosoxidans, is a low-virulence, non-fermenter gram-negative bacillus mainly found in marine environments. We report a detailed series of four high-risk cases of septicemia with the common variable of positive blood cultures for A. xylosoxidans. All four blood isolates were multi-drug resistant and susceptible to meropenem and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Two patients responded well to the treatment with meropenem and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and two patients died. It should never be assumed that Achromobacter is a contaminant even though it is relatively infrequently isolated from clinical samples. This infection can progress to fatal bacteremia, even in otherwise healthy people, and it can potentially cause severe conditions in premature infants. With only a limited number of antibiotics demonstrating bactericidal properties, the possibility of failure in empirical treatment is significant. As a result, it is important to have a precise comprehension of this uncommon yet deadly illness in order to increase the probability of successful treatment.

The State of Microbiological Cleanliness of Surfaces and Equipment of an Endoscopic Examination Laboratory-Data from a Reference Tertiary Clinical Endoscopy Center in Southern Poland

The increasing number of endoscopic procedures performed and their increasing invasiveness mean that endoscopy of the gastrointestinal tract is associated with the risk of transmitting pathogenic microorganisms through infected equipment or contact with other patients and medical staff. In order to ensure protection of the health of both patients and medical staff, endoscopy laboratories should meet high hygiene standards. The results of tests of the microbiological cleanliness of surfaces and equipment of an endoscopic examination laboratory performed in the period from January to December 2019 at the Provincial Clinical Hospital No. 2 in Rzeszow were assessed retrospectively. Samples for testing were collected by swabbing from places where microbiological contamination was the most likely and cleaning was the most difficult. In the analyzed period, a total of 86 samples were collected for microbiological tests, of which positive results accounted for 6.9%. Positive results were obtained mainly from swabs collected from wet surfaces (66.7%). Most of the isolated microorganisms were Gram-negative bacteria (66.7% of all positive tests) and they were: Acinetobacter junii, Ralstonia pickettii, and Achromobacter denitrificans. The condition of the microbiological cleanliness of the surfaces and equipment of the endoscopic examination laboratory was satisfactory. A very low level of microbiological contamination of the tested items indicates occasional shortcomings in the decontamination processes. Since microorganisms isolated from the collected samples may be the cause of infection in patients and medical personnel, it is necessary to verify the decontamination procedures applied and to continue periodic microbiological monitoring of their effectiveness.

Characterization of sixteen Achromobacter xylosoxidans phages from Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, isolated on a single clinical strain

Sixteen bacteriophages of Achromobacter xylosoxidans distributed into four genera have been isolated from sewage water in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, using a single clinical strain, and their genomes have been sequenced. Three podoviruses belonged to the genus Phikmvvirus, and these represent the first A. xylosoxidans phages of this genus. Seven podoviruses, distributed into three groups, belonged to the genus Jwalphavirus. Among the siphoviruses, three revealed similarities to Pseudomonas phage 73 and members of the genus Septimatrevirus, and three were YuA-like phages. The virulence of these phages toward a panel of 10 genetically diverse strains was tested, with the phiKMV-like phages showing the broadest host range.