Open AccessEvaluation of Sphingomonas paucimobilis as an emerging nosocomial pathogen in a teaching hospital in Uttarakhand
Author(s) -
Ranjana Rohilla,
Dimple Raina,
Malvika Singh,
Ajay Pandita,
Shiwang Patwal
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
iranian journal of microbiology.
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2008-4447
pISSN - 2008-3289
DOI - 10.18502/ijm.v13i5.7425
Subject(s) - sphingomonas paucimobilis , microbiology and biotechnology , cefepime , pathogen , pneumonia , colistin , biology , medicine , antimicrobial , antibiotic resistance , antibiotics , imipenem , bacteria , genetics
Background and Objectives: Sphingomonas paucimobilis is an opportunistic pathogen and was rarely encountered in clin- ical specimens previously. This study aimed to investigate the clinical features, associated co-morbidities, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of S. paucimobilis infection in a tertiary hospital in Uttarakhand.
Materials and Methods: S. paucimobilis isolates cultured from various sections of hospital and OPDs were identified and an- alyzed for their antibiograms in the microbiology laboratory for a duration of one year from January 2020 to December 2020. Results: S. paucimobilis was isolated from 49 samples (0.01%) out of 3792 samples processed in VITEK 2 Compact auto- mated ID/AST instrument. The maximum number of isolates were obtained from urine samples (31%), followed by blood (24%). Septicemia (41%), meningitis (17%), lower respiratory tract infections and ventilator associated pneumonia (14%) constituted a major portion of infections caused by this organism. Diabetes mellitus (22%) and steroid usage (16%) were major associated co-morbid conditions. Third and Fourth generation cephalosporins like ceftriaxone (81%) and cefepime (86%) were found to be the most susceptible drugs whereas 61% of isolates were resistant to colistin.
Conclusion: This organism is an up-and-coming pathogen and should not be simply labeled as a contaminant. Although the organism is not grossly virulent and still might not be associated with serious life-threatening infections; however their evolving resistance patterns and increased spectrum of infections should be seriously taken into account.