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A Rare Case of Persistent Bacteremia Caused by Asaia spp. in an Infant
Athirah Mohammad1, Nik Haszroel Hysham Nik Hashim1
1Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Universiti Sains Malaysia School of Medical Sciences, Kota Bharu, MYS.
Abstract:
Asaia spp. has recently been reported to cause opportunistic infections in humans and is becoming an emerging hospital pathogen. To our knowledge, this is the first report on Asaia spp. in Malaysia. bacteremia in an infant. A girl with underlying Hirschsprung's disease, who was on parenteral feeding via a central venous catheter, developed persistent multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteremia. Routine automated identification methods failed to identify the organism, which was later identified by 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. Bacterial clearance was achieved after the removal of the catheter and initiation of IV amikacin. This case highlights the role of molecular identification and the clinical importance of Asaia spp. in causing infections in humans, especially in patients with indwelling devices.
Insights
Asaia species, an emerging hospital pathogen, caused persistent bacteremia in a Malaysian infant with Hirschsprung's disease. Molecular identification and amikacin treatment were crucial for bacterial clearance.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Molecular Diagnostics
Background:
- Asaia species are increasingly recognized as opportunistic human pathogens.
- This report details the first documented case of Asaia species infection in Malaysia.
- The patient had underlying Hirschsprung's disease and a central venous catheter, predisposing factors for infection.
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