An unusual cause of pyrexia of unknown origin with sepsis: A diagnostic challenge

Sphingobacterium species are ubiquitous and are abundant in nature and rarely involved in causing human infections. A 62-year-old man presented with recurrent episodes of high fever up to 40 ​°C accompanied by rigors, sweating, and malaise for the past 4 weeks. After a thorough workup, only elevated C-reactive protein with a leucocytosis was evident. Blood culture showed growth of Gram-negative bacilli which was identified as spingobacterium spiritivorum. Although S. spiritivorum is rare, with limited cases reported in the literature, it must be considered as a causative organism in patients with persistent fevers with sepsis.