Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 27, 2026

Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children
10:42

Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children

Published on: December 31, 2017

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
PubMed

Insights

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.

More Related Videos

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)12:18

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Published on: February 9, 2011

Related Concept Videos

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens01:31

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria01:30

Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria

Coryneform bacteria are gram-positive, aerobic, nonmotile rods that exhibit irregular, club-shaped, or V-shaped arrangements. Their V-shape results from snapping division, where the inner cell wall layer forms the cross-wall, while the outer layer remains intact until it ruptures on one side, causing the daughter cells to bend away.The primary genera are Corynebacterium and Arthrobacter. Corynebacterium includes diverse species, ranging from saprophytes to pathogens like Corynebacterium...
Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract01:29

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract

The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more like...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
Staphylococcal Skin Infections01:29

Staphylococcal Skin Infections

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...
Inhalation Anthrax01:25

Inhalation Anthrax

Anthrax is a zoonotic disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, a Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium. It primarily affects herbivorous animals but can be transmitted to humans through skin contact, ingestion, or inhalation of spores.Cutaneous anthrax, the most common form, typically results from direct contact with bacterial spores through skin abrasions and is generally less severe. Gastrointestinal anthrax results from eating undercooked or contaminated meat. It affects the mouth, throat, or...