Sphingobium yanoikuyae peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis: a case report.

Abstract

We report a rare clinical case of infection with the bacterium Sphingobium yanoikuyae in an 87-year-old patient undergoing peritoneal dialysis for end-stage renal failure. Sphingobium yanoikuyae is an aerobic, gram-negative bacterium known for its ability to degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and its bioremediation potential. A member of the Sphingomonadaceae family, it has been identified in a variety of environments, including dialysis equipment. After starting peritoneal dialysis, the patient developed an infectious syndrome. Bacteriological analysis of the peritoneal effluent revealed the presence of Sphingobium yanoikuyae in the dialysate. Appropriate antibiotic therapy with MEROPENEM was instituted as soon as the Sphyngobium antibiogram was obtained. A second bacterium, Shingomonas sp, was also identified later (resistant to MEROPENEM). Due to the favorable clinicobiological course, only Sphyngobium was considered responsible for the disease. This is the first known case of human infection with Sphingobium yanoikuyae, and the third case of infection with a Sphingobium species in a peritoneal dialysis setting. The low prevalence of this germ in human infections suggests a low virulence of this bacterium. Nevertheless, this highlights the potential risk of nosocomial infections linked to this family of bacteria. This germ has shown antibiotic resistance, raising concerns about anti-infective resistance in opportunistic bacteria such as Sphingomonadaceae. This case adds to our knowledge of rare, antibiotic-resistant infections in the hospital setting, particularly in vulnerable patients treated with peritoneal dialysis.

Keywords

• peritoneal dialysis
• sphingobium yanoikuyae
• peritonitis
• antibotic resistance