Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 4, 2025

Identification of Rare Bacterial Pathogens by 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS
Published on: July 11, 2016
Sphingobacterium Spritivorum Associated With Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis in a Cirrhotic Patient With
Gift Echefu1, Rameela Mahat2, Silpita Katragadda2
1Internal Medicine, Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Baton Rouge, USA.
Abstract:
Sphingobacterium spritivorum (SS) is a ubiquitous gram-negative organism and an uncommon cause of infection in humans. To our knowledge, there are no reported cases of this bacterium causing spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in patients with cirrhosis. In this report, we discuss a case of a male patient in his late 60s who presented with severe sepsis from methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), in whom SS was subsequently identified via ascitic fluid culture. This unusual organism is known to have an innate resistance to multiple antibiotics and can cause life-threatening sepsis in cases of delayed or missed diagnosis. Clinicians should not be weighed down by anchoring bias and look for alternative, uncommon gram-negative organisms in cases of progressive sepsis in patients with ascites.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Bacterial Phylum Spirochaetes
Bacterial Phylum Bacteroidota
Bacterial Phylum Proteobacteria
Pneumonia I: Introduction
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...
Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacteria
Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria

