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Achromobacter respiratory infections

Colin E Swenson1, Ruxana T Sadikot

  • 11 Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida; and.

Annals of the American Thoracic Society
|February 24, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Achromobacteria are opportunistic pathogens causing lung infections, often community-acquired pneumonias, particularly in cancer patients. Treatment can be challenging due to multidrug resistance, but extended-spectrum penicillins and cephalosporins show promise.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pulmonology

Background:

  • Achromobacteria are environmental bacteria with opportunistic pathogenic potential.
  • Infections are increasingly reported, yet clinical significance and treatment remain uncertain for many physicians.
  • Multidrug resistance complicates effective management of Achromobacteria infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and analyze published cases of non-cystic fibrosis Achromobacteria lung infections.
  • To elucidate the pathogenic potential and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Achromobacteria in lung infections.
  • To provide insights for clinicians managing these challenging infections.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of all published case reports of non-cystic fibrosis Achromobacteria lung infections.
  • Analysis of clinical presentation, patient demographics, and outcomes.
  • Evaluation of antimicrobial susceptibility data.

Main Results:

  • The majority of reviewed cases were community-acquired pneumonias (88%).
  • Hematologic and solid organ malignancies were the most frequent comorbidities.
  • Infections were challenging to treat but showed good response to extended-spectrum penicillins and cephalosporins (e.g., ticarcillin, piperacillin, cefoperazone).

Conclusions:

  • Achromobacteria are significant causes of community-acquired pneumonia, especially in immunocompromised patients.
  • Effective treatment strategies are crucial due to emerging drug resistance.
  • Extended-spectrum penicillins and cephalosporins represent viable therapeutic options for Achromobacteria lung infections.
Keywords:
antimicrobial drug resistancebacterial pneumoniabronchiectasisgram-negative bacteriavirulence factors

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