Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: Threat of a Multidrug Resistant Infection in Hosts with Co-morbidities- A Case Series

Abstract

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S.maltophilia) was first identified in the year 1943. Since the discovery, the organism has been classified into multiple genus. Finally, Stenotrophomonas genus was created in 1993 and has steadily been growing in prevalence since then. S.maltophilia is an organism of low virulence but owing to its inherent resistance to commonly used antibiotics and some peculiar resistance mechanism, the organism is poising challenge as a nosocomial infection, hence high index of suspicion is essential in part of physicians for early intervention and better prognosis. Five cases (35 years old male, 18 years old female, 55 years old female,82 years old male and 60 years old male patients) of S. maltophilia infection, diagnosed by various diagnostic modalities like chest x-ray and relevant blood investigations, in hosts with co-morbidities (like diabetes, hypertension, sickle cell disease, psychiatric illness etc.) are presented here along with a brief review. The patients were treated by antibiotic therapy according to culture sensitivity report and were discharged at time range of 10-21 days of hospitalisation after improvement of clinical condition and laboratory reports of the patients.

Keywords

• antibiotics
• nosocomial infection
• resistance
• virulence