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Elizabethkingia anophelis infection in an infant: an unusual presentation
Mohsin Raj Mantoo1, Jagat Jeevan Ghimire1, Sarita Mahopatra2
1Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Delhi, India.
Insights
A severe Elizabethkingia anophelis infection presented unusually in an infant with sepsis and bleeding symptoms. Early diagnosis and piperacillin-tazobactam treatment led to recovery.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Neonatal Medicine
- Microbiology
Background:
- Elizabethkingia anophelis is an emerging pathogen often associated with hospital-acquired infections.
- Community-acquired Elizabethkingia anophelis infections are rare, especially in infants.
Observation:
- A 7-month-old infant presented with prolonged fever, ecchymotic patches, shock, respiratory failure, severe anemia, and thrombocytopenia.
- Cranial CT revealed a temporoparietal hematoma, with no evidence of bleeding disorders or non-accidental trauma.
Findings:
- Blood cultures confirmed Elizabethkingia anophelis infection.
- The infant was sensitive only to piperacillin-tazobactam and responded well to this treatment.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential for severe community-acquired Elizabethkingia anophelis infections in infants.
- Prompt recognition and targeted antibiotic therapy are crucial for managing this emerging pathogen.
Abstract:
A 7-month-old male infant presented with history of fever for 2 weeks, multiple ecchymotic patches over face, trunk and lower limbs, and one episode of seizure. The infant had shock, respiratory failure, severe anaemia, thrombocytopenia and temporoparietal haematoma on CT scan of the head. He was managed with supportive care and broad-spectrum empiric antibiotics. Two consecutive blood cultures grew Elizabethkingia anophelis, sensitive only to piperacillin-tazobactam. The infant responded to therapy and was discharged after 2 weeks of hospital stay. Repeated coagulation studies done to rule out an underlying bleeding disorder were negative. There was no clue in favour of non-accidental trauma. We report this case to highlight the unusual clinical presentation of this emerging pathogen. Mostly reported in outbreaks from surgical and post-operative intensive care units, it was worrisome to find this infant presenting with community-acquired E. anophelis infection.
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