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Published on: July 11, 2016

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: an emerging opportunist human pathogen

W John Looney1, Masashi Narita, Kathrin Mühlemann

  • 1Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

The Lancet. Infectious Diseases
|April 28, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an opportunistic pathogen causing severe infections in vulnerable patients. Its resistance to antibiotics and ability to colonize medical devices necessitate strict infection control measures.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an opportunistic pathogen frequently encountered in healthcare settings.
  • It readily colonizes respiratory tracts and medical devices, posing a risk to hospitalized individuals.
  • The pathogen causes significant morbidity, particularly bloodstream infections and pneumonia, in immunocompromised patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the clinical significance of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia as an opportunistic pathogen.
  • To discuss the challenges in managing S. maltophilia infections due to antimicrobial resistance.
  • To emphasize the importance of infection control strategies for preventing S. maltophilia acquisition.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review on Stenotrophomonas maltophilia epidemiology and clinical impact.
  • Analysis of antimicrobial resistance patterns associated with S. maltophilia.
  • Evaluation of current infection control practices relevant to opportunistic pathogens.

Main Results:

  • S. maltophilia demonstrates high-level intrinsic resistance to numerous antibiotic classes.
  • Acquired resistance to co-trimoxazole, a primary treatment, is increasingly observed.
  • The pathogen's ability to colonize diverse surfaces facilitates its spread in hospitals.

Conclusions:

  • Effective management of S. maltophilia infections requires addressing its intrinsic and acquired resistance.
  • Prevention strategies must focus on stringent infection control, including judicious antibiotic use and environmental monitoring.
  • Control of environmental reservoirs is crucial to limit the spread of this opportunistic pathogen.

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