Emerging <i>Chryseobacterium indologenes</i> Infection in Indian Neonatal Intensive Care Units: A Case Report

• Main Authors: Rishika Mehta, Ashish Pathak
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-12-01
• Series: Antibiotics
• Subjects: <i>Chryseobacterium indologenes</i>; blood stream infection; newborns; healthcare-associated pathogen
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/7/4/109

Antibiotic-resistant pathogens and nosocomial infections constitute common and serious problems for neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units worldwide. <i>Chryseobacterium indologenes</i> is a non-lactose-fermenting, gram-negative, health care-associated pathogen (HCAP). It is ubiquitous and intrinsically resistant to several antibiotics. Despite its low virulence, <i>C. indologenes</i> has been widely reported to cause life-threatening infections. Patients on chronic immunosuppressant drugs, harboring invasive devices and indwelling catheters become the nidus for <i>C. indologenes</i>. Typically, <i>C. indologenes</i> causes major health care-associated infections such as pneumonia, empyema, pyelonephritis, cystitis, peritonitis, meningitis, and bacteremia in patients harboring central venous catheters. Management of <i>C. indologenes</i> infection in neonates is not adequately documented owing to underreporting, particularly in India. Because of its multidrug resistance and the scant availability of data from the literature, the effective empirical treatment of <i>C. indologenes</i> is challenging. We present an uncommon case of bacteremia caused by <i>C. indologenes</i> in a preterm newborn baby with moderate respiratory distress syndrome who was successfully treated. We also provide a review of infections in the neonatal age group. Henceforth, in neonates receiving treatments involving invasive equipment use and long-term antibiotic therapy, multidrug resistant <i>C. indologenes</i> should be considered an HCAP.