Elizabethkingia meningoseptica Infections: A Case Series from a Tertiary Hospital in South Tamil Nadu

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Clinical Microbiology
• Hospital Epidemiology

Background:

• Elizabethkingia meningoseptica is an opportunistic pathogen causing hospital-acquired infections.
• Invasive E. meningoseptica infections pose a significant clinical challenge, particularly in tertiary care settings.

Observation:

• A case series of eight patients with invasive E. meningoseptica infections was observed over 27 months in a South Indian tertiary teaching hospital.
• Patient demographics included a wide age range (45 days to 84 years, median 66 years) with a male predominance.
• Identified risk factors were recent hospitalization, surgeries, diabetes mellitus, renal failure, mechanical ventilation, and central line usage.

Findings:

• All E. meningoseptica isolates demonstrated susceptibility to minocycline.
• The most frequent treatment regimen involved combination therapy with ciprofloxacin and piperacillin tazobactam.
• Six out of eight patients recovered, while two were lost to follow-up.

Implications:

• Highlights the prevalence and clinical characteristics of E. meningoseptica infections in South India.
• Suggests minocycline as a potential therapeutic option for E. meningoseptica infections.
• Emphasizes the need for vigilance and appropriate management strategies for hospital-acquired E. meningoseptica infections.