Achromobacter xylosoxidans bacteriaemia in a patient with myocarditis and lobar pneumonia

Abstract

A case of bacteriaemia due to Achromobacter xylosoxidans in a 14 year old patient with myocarditis and right lobar pneumonia is described. Six consecutive strains of this organism isolated from blood cultures during primary bacteriaemia and relapses were multi-drug resistant but susceptible to cefotaxime and gentamicin (minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC: 2 and 4-8 µg/ml respectively). Treatment with cefotaxime resolved the clinical symptoms with concurrent decrease in the titres of agglutinating antibodies in the patient's serum. The probable source of infection was not successfully determined.

Keywords: achromobacter xylosoxidans, multi-drug resistance

Mary Slessor Journal of Medicine Vol. 5(2) 2005: 8-12