Bacteremia due to Elizabethkingia meningoseptica

Abstract

Elizabethkingia meningoseptica is a nonfermentative gram-negative bacillus that is ubiquitously found in hospital environments and as such, it has been associated with various nosocomial infections. Immunocompromised individuals are particularly at increased risk for developing severe infections due to E. meningoseptica, including bacteremia. E. meningoseptica is resistant to multiple antimicrobials commonly used for gram-negative bacteria and conventional empirical antimicrobials targeting those organisms may result in unfavorable outcome. We report a case of bacteremia due to E. meningoseptica in a patient who necessitated chronic hemodialysis therapy to heighten awareness of this emerging pathogen among patients on hemodialysis.

Keywords

• Nonfermenters
• Bacteremia
• Drug resistance