Postępy Mikrobiologii (Jan 2019)
New Species Of Bacteria In Human Infections
Abstract
In the last few years, there have been works in literature describing clinical cases of infections with bacteria previously considered to be non-pathogenic. So far, these bacteria have been commonly isolated from the natural environment: water, soil, plants, and isolation from a sample of clinical material has often been considered an impurity. Therefore, the aim of the paper was to draw attention to newly emerging bacterial species, their characteristics, biochemical properties, virulence factors and predisposition to selected forms of infection in groups of patients with specific risk factors. The impact on the more frequent isolation of species of bacteria previously considered to be non-pathogenic has several aspects: reliable diagnostic methods, including correct identification of the species, enabling the differentiation of closely related bacteria, the growing group of immune-compromised patients and with infectious risk factors (such as older age, diabetes, tumours, organ transplantation), more susceptible to infection, also with less pathogenic microorganisms. Greater adaptability of bacteria to new environmental conditions, including the human body, are also worth mentioning. The pathogenic effect of these bacteria, mainly related to the production of biofilms and factors conditioning adhesion to host cells or biomaterials, facilitating colonization and subsequent infection, is also important.
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