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Antimicrobial treatment of Flavobacterium meningosepticum infection
Abstract:
A six-month-old boy in hospital developed septicaemia and meningitis due to Flavobacterium meningosepticum type A. Although the organism was susceptible to amikacin, chloramphenicol and sulphonamides when tested by the disc diffusion method, therapy with these drugs was ineffective. Intravenous therapy with cotrimoxazole gave complete recovery. Various strains of flavobacteria including F. meningosepticum type B were isolated from the environment. Antimicrobial susceptibilities of patients and environmental strains against chloramphenicol, sulphonamides and rifampicin showed no correlation between disc diffusion results and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). On the other hand, all the strains were found by both methods to be susceptible to amikacin, erythromycin, clindamycin and trimethoprim. Disc diffusion method should be supplemented with determination of MIC when testing antimicrobial susceptibility of Flavobacterium sp.
Insights
A six-month-old infant recovered from Flavobacterium meningosepticum meningitis and septicemia with cotrimoxazole. Disc diffusion testing for Flavobacterium susceptibility requires Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) determination for accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Medical microbiology
- Infectious diseases
- Pediatric infectious diseases
Background:
- Flavobacterium meningosepticum is a rare cause of meningitis and septicemia, particularly in neonates and infants.
- Antimicrobial resistance in Flavobacterium species poses a significant challenge for effective treatment.
Observation:
- A six-month-old boy developed severe septicemia and meningitis caused by Flavobacterium meningosepticum type A.
- Initial treatment with amikacin, chloramphenicol, and sulfonamides, based on disc diffusion susceptibility, proved ineffective.
Findings:
- Intravenous cotrimoxazole therapy resulted in complete recovery for the patient.
- Environmental strains of Flavobacterium, including type B, were also identified.
- Disc diffusion results for chloramphenicol, sulfonamides, and rifampicin did not correlate with Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values.
- All tested Flavobacterium strains showed susceptibility to amikacin, erythromycin, clindamycin, and trimethoprim via both disc diffusion and MIC methods.
Implications:
- Cotrimoxazole is an effective treatment option for Flavobacterium meningosepticum infections.
- The disc diffusion method alone is insufficient for determining Flavobacterium antimicrobial susceptibility.
- Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) testing should supplement disc diffusion for accurate susceptibility profiling of Flavobacterium species to guide therapy.