Background: Chryseobacterium indologenes, although widely distributed in nature, is a rare human pathogen. This study aims to analyze the clinical characteristics, risk factors, and outcome of patients with C. indologenes bacteremia.
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted from January 1, 2002 to April 30, 2011 analyzing patients with C. indologenes bacteremia at a medical center in northern Taiwan.
Results: Forty-eight episodes of C. indologenes bacteremia in 47 patients were identifi ed. Among all bacteremic episodes, 44 (92%) were nosocomial, three (6%) were healthcare-associated, and only one (2%) was community-acquired. Thirty-three episodes (69%) were primary bacteremia, and nine (19%) were from pneumonia. Forty-one isolates (85%) were non-susceptible to imipenem, and only 20% (3/15) were non-susceptible to fl omoxef. Patients with tunneled catheter, delayed onset of bacteremia, isolates were non-susceptible to ceftazidime or cefepime and potentially associated with higher mortality. Pneumonia (OR = 31.359; 95% CI = 1.35-729.39; p = 0.032) and non-susceptibility to ceftazidime (OR = 21.057; 95% CI = 2.28-194.57; p = 0.007) were independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality.
Conclusions: The emergence of C. indologenes bacteremia has had a great clinical impact on inpatient care. It is important to identify the clinical characteristics of C. indologenes bacteremia and initial prompt antimicrobial treatments.