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Isolation of Eikenella corrodens from pulmonary infections
Abstract:
Eikenella corrodens is a capnophilic gram-negative rod that is part of the normal human oral flora. We report the isolation of E. corrodens by transtracheal aspiration or percutaneous aspiration from 7 patients with pneumonia and/or lung abscess. Four of the 7 patients had an associated carcinoma of the lung. The susceptibilities of strains were tested to penicillin, dicloxacillin, clindamycin, and 10 cephalosporins. All strains were very susceptible to penicillin and cefoxitin and resistant to dicloxacillin and clindamycin. Susceptibilities of strains to the cephalosporins were variable. E. corrodens has been increasingly identified as a pathogen and should be recognized as an etiologic agent of pneumonia, especially in cases not responding to therapy with a penicillinase-resistant penicillin, clindamycin, or cephalosporin.
Insights
Eikenella corrodens, a common oral bacterium, was identified as a cause of pneumonia and lung abscess in seven patients. This finding is crucial for understanding and treating lung infections, especially when standard therapies fail.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pulmonary Medicine
Background:
- Eikenella corrodens is a capnophilic, gram-negative rod normally found in the human oral flora.
- The role of E. corrodens as a pulmonary pathogen is increasingly recognized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the isolation of E. corrodens from patients with pneumonia and/or lung abscess.
- To evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of E. corrodens strains isolated from these patients.
Main Methods:
- E. corrodens was isolated from seven patients via transtracheal or percutaneous aspiration.
- Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using penicillin, dicloxacillin, clindamycin, and ten cephalosporins.
Main Results:
- E. corrodens was identified as the causative agent in pneumonia and/or lung abscess in seven patients.
- Four of these patients also had an associated lung carcinoma.
- All tested strains showed high susceptibility to penicillin and cefoxitin, but resistance to dicloxacillin and clindamycin. Cephalosporin susceptibility varied.
Conclusions:
- Eikenella corrodens should be considered an etiologic agent of pneumonia.
- Recognition of E. corrodens is important in cases of pneumonia unresponsive to standard antibiotic therapies, including penicillinase-resistant penicillins, clindamycin, or cephalosporins.