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A case report of intracranial infection caused by Shewanella putrefaciens

Mengxi Duan1, Dali Wang, Jing Wang

  • 1Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, 116011, Dalian, China, duanmengxiwork@163.com.

Neurological Sciences : Official Journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology
|September 27, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Shewanella putrefaciens, a rare pathogen, caused an intracranial infection in a patient. This case highlights the importance of identifying this bacteria in cerebrospinal fluid, especially with increasing opportunistic infections.

Area of Science:

  • Clinical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Genomic Identification

Background:

  • Shewanella putrefaciens is increasingly recognized as a conditional pathogen.
  • Clinical infections caused by Shewanella putrefaciens have been reported, with isolation from various bodily fluids.
  • Opportunistic infections are a growing concern in healthcare settings.

Observation:

  • A patient with intracranial infection post-cerebral hemorrhage surgery was admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University.
  • Blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and sputum samples were collected for analysis.
  • A bacterial strain was successfully isolated from the patient's cerebrospinal fluid.

Findings:

  • Initial analysis suggested a highly drug-resistant Pseudomonas species.
  • The isolate was only sensitive to ticarcillin/clavulanic acid and Imipenem.
  • 16S rDNA amplification assay confirmed the pathogen as Shewanella putrefaciens with 99% accuracy.
  • This marks the first documented case of Shewanella putrefaciens in cerebrospinal fluid at this institution.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the need for heightened clinical vigilance regarding Shewanella putrefaciens infections.
  • Accurate and rapid identification methods, such as 16S rDNA sequencing, are crucial for effective treatment.
  • The increasing prevalence of opportunistic pathogens necessitates updated diagnostic and treatment protocols.

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