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Fatal pulmonary infection associated with a novel organism, "para-streptomyces abscessus"

W Garrett Nichols1, Jennifer Prentice, Yolanda Houze

  • 1Program in Infectious Diseases, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|October 7, 2005
PubMed

Insights

A novel bacterium, Para-streptomyces abscessus, was identified in a fatal pulmonary infection in an immunocompromised patient. This aerobic gram-positive rod shows similarities to Rhodococcus equi, highlighting new pathogenic actinomycetes.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Bacteriology

Background:

  • Actinomycetes are increasingly recognized as significant pathogens, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
  • Pulmonary infections in transplant recipients pose diagnostic challenges due to diverse etiologies.

Observation:

  • An asporogenous, nonmotile, aerobic gram-positive rod was isolated from a fatal pulmonary infection in a transplant recipient.
  • The observed pathology, including intra-histiocytic localization, resembled that caused by Rhodococcus equi.

Findings:

  • The isolated organism exhibited limited reactivity in standard biochemical tests.
  • 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed the organism is most closely related to the genus Streptomyces.
  • A novel species, "Para-streptomyces abscessus," is proposed for this unique isolate.

Implications:

  • This finding expands the spectrum of known pathogenic actinomycetes.
  • Accurate identification of novel pathogens like "Para-streptomyces abscessus" is crucial for effective treatment in immunocompromised hosts.
  • Further research is needed to understand the pathogenicity and treatment of infections caused by this novel organism.

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