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Published on: February 23, 2014

Managing Pneumonia Due to Rare Non-Fermenting Gram-Negative Bacteria: Epidemiology, Risk Factors and Therapeutic

Alessandro Capone1, Francesca Gavaruzzi1, Valentina Antonelli2

  • 1Systemic and Immune Depression-Associated Infections Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy.

Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 27, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Pneumonia caused by rare non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria (NFGNB) is an emerging concern. Understanding their epidemiology and risk factors is crucial for effective treatment and prevention strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Pulmonology

Background:

  • Pneumonia is a major global health issue, with bacterial pathogens being significant contributors.
  • While Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii are common causes of severe pneumonia, rarer non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria (NFGNB) are increasingly implicated.
  • These rarer NFGNB include a diverse range of species such as Achromobacter, Burkholderia, and Elizabethkingia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the contemporary epidemiology and specific risk factors for pneumonia caused by a diverse group of rare NFGNB.
  • To delineate emerging patterns of pneumonia associated with specific rare NFGNB species.
  • To discuss antimicrobial treatment strategies for pneumonia caused by these challenging pathogens.

Main Methods:

  • Focused review of contemporary literature on rare NFGNB pneumonia.
  • Exclusion of well-known NFGNB like P. aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and A. baumannii.
  • Synthesis of epidemiological data, risk factors, and antimicrobial treatment approaches.

Main Results:

  • Identification of an expanding list of rare NFGNB species causing pneumonia.
  • Delineation of emerging epidemiological patterns for species like Achromobacter, Burkholderia, and Elizabethkingia.
  • Discussion of specific antimicrobial considerations for various rare NFGNB.

Conclusions:

  • A deeper understanding of rare NFGNB pneumonia epidemiology and risk factors is essential.
  • This knowledge will guide diagnostic approaches, antimicrobial stewardship, and infection control.
  • Targeted strategies are needed to mitigate the impact of these challenging pathogens.
Keywords:
Achromobacter spp.Aeromonas spp.Burkholderia spp.Elizabethkingia spp.Kerstersia gyiorumPandoraea spp.Roseomonas spp.Sphingomonas spp.non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteriapneumonia

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