Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 2, 2026
Quantification of Violacein in Chromobacterium violaceum and Its Inhibition by Bioactive Compounds
Published on: August 8, 2025
Septic shock caused by Chromobacterium haemolyticum following initial misidentification as Chromobacterium violaceum
Huiying Ye1, Yanhong Wu1, Xiaohong Xu1
1Department of Clinical Laboratory, Sanmen People's Hospital, Taizhou, Zhejiang, China.
Objectives:
We report a case of bloodstream infection caused by Chromobacterium haemolyticum in an 80-year-old man following traumatic exposure to contaminated rice field water. The patient presented with rapidly progressive lower extremity soft tissue infection and septic shock.
Design Or Methods:
Initial identification was performed using MALDI-TOF MS. Due to atypical phenotypic characteristics, including absence of violacein pigmentation and presence of β-hemolysis, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was conducted for definitive species confirmation.
Result:
Preliminary MALDI-TOF MS identification indicates that it is Chromobacterium violaceum; Definitive identification by whole-genome sequencing (WGS) confirmed C. haemolyticum. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) revealed high-level resistance to β-lactam antibiotics, including carbapenems, while the isolate remained susceptible to fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines. WGS identified the blaCRH-1 gene, likely contributing to the resistance phenotype.
Conclusion:
This case emphasizes the importance of accurate species-level identification and AST in managing Chromobacterium infections, especially in immunocompromised or severely ill patients. Increased awareness of C. haemolyticum as a distinct clinical pathogen is essential, given its potential for misidentification and multidrug resistance.
Related Concept Videos
02:33Initiation of Translation
First, the initiator tRNA must be selected from the pool of elongator tRNAs by eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2). The initiator tRNA (Met-tRNAi) has conserved sequence elements including modified bases at...
02:33Initiation of Translation
01:16Shock Waves
When the source's speed approaches the speed of sound, constructive interference between successive wavefronts emitted by the source occurs immediately behind it. Initially, scientists believed that this constructive interference would result in such high...
01:47Transcription Initiation
The promoters and enhancers and their accessory proteins allow tight regulation of...
02:38S-Cdk Initiates DNA Replication
Two states at the origin of replication
In eukaryotes, the initiation of replication occurs at many sites on the chromosomes, called the origins of...
01:24Blood Pressure Imbalances and Circulatory Shock
Blood Pressure: Hypertension and Hypotension
Normal blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg. Elevated blood pressure is 120-129/under 80 mm Hg. Hypertension, warranting treatment at 130/80 mm Hg, is often asymptomatic and can lead to severe cardiovascular events, aneurysms, peripheral arterial disease, chronic renal disease, or cardiac...