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Ochrobactrum anthropi bacteraemia in immunocompetent children
Emmanouil Galanakis1, Maria Bitsori, Georgios Samonis
1Department of Paediatrics, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece. egalanak@med.uoc.gr
Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases
|February 13, 2003
Summary
Ochrobactrum anthropi can cause bloodstream infections in healthy children, presenting with common symptoms and rapid recovery. Further research is needed to determine if it
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Ochrobactrum anthropi is recognized as an emerging pathogen, primarily affecting immunocompromised individuals.
- Documented infections in immunocompetent hosts are rare, necessitating further investigation into its role in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize Ochrobactrum anthropi bloodstream infections (bacteremia) in immunocompetent children.
- To describe the clinical presentation, laboratory findings, and outcomes of these infections.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case series analysis of 11 immunocompetent children diagnosed with O. anthropi bacteremia over a 5-year period.
- Review of clinical data, including symptoms, physical examination findings, and laboratory results (blood cultures, white blood cell counts).
Main Results:
- Eleven immunocompetent children (2 months to 7 years) experienced O. anthropi bacteremia.
- Common presentations included fever, non-specific respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms, leukocytosis, and neutrophilia.
- All patients demonstrated rapid recovery, with negative subsequent blood cultures, regardless of specific treatment.
Conclusions:
- Ochrobactrum anthropi can cause bacteremia in immunocompetent children.
- The bacterium may represent a low-virulence pathogen or transient bloodstream contaminants (pseudobacteraemia) in this population.
- Further studies are required to elucidate the clinical significance of O. anthropi bacteremia in healthy hosts.