Related Experiment Videos
Pleuropulmonary infections caused by Eikenella corrodens
N Joshi1, T O'Bryan, P C Appelbaum
1Department of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey 17033.
Reviews of Infectious Diseases
|November 1, 1991
Summary
Eikenella corrodens can cause serious lung infections, particularly in younger or older adults, often linked to underlying conditions like cancer. Early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics like penicillin are crucial, as resistance to clindamycin is a concern.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Pulmonology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Eikenella corrodens is an unusual cause of pleuropulmonary infections.
- This review outlines predisposing factors, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment based on reported cases since 1970.
Observation:
- Infections occur across all ages, with peaks in those ≤14 and ≥44 years old.
- Adults often have underlying conditions, most commonly pleuropulmonary malignancy.
- Symptoms include fever, cough, and pleuritic chest pain, with radiographic findings of effusion, pneumonia, or cavitation.
Findings:
- Ampicillin and penicillin G are effective treatments.
- While penicillin susceptibility is common, it's not universal.
- Eikenella corrodens is resistant to clindamycin, an antibiotic frequently used for anaerobic lung infections.
Implications:
- Increased awareness of Eikenella corrodens as a cause of pleuropulmonary disease is necessary.
- Clinicians should consider this pathogen in relevant cases, especially given clindamycin resistance.
- This highlights the importance of appropriate antibiotic selection for pleuropulmonary infections.