Agrobacterium radiobacter: a recently recognized opportunistic pathogen

Over the past decade, an increasing number of infections due to Agrobacterium radiobacter have been reported. Observation of three cases of bacteremia due to this organism prompted a review of the English-language literature. Nineteen cases of significant disease have previously been reported. In more than one-half of the cases, bacteremia was the primary manifestation, often associated with the presence of an intravascular catheter. Other clinical syndromes (peritonitis, urinary tract infection, and endocarditis) have been described. Infection is strongly related to the presence of plastic foreign material, and effective treatment often requires removal of the device. Because antimicrobial sensitivity is variable, treatment must be based on sensitivity data for the individual isolate.