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| | CASE REPORT | | | | | Year : 2010 | Volume : 28 | Issue : 1 | Page : 62-64 | | | Catheter associated bloodstream infection caused by R. radiobacter
S Sood1, V Nerurkar2, S Malvankar2
1 Department of Lab Medicine, Super Religare Laboratories, Fortis Escorts Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
2 Department of Microbiology, Super Religare Laboratories (Formerly SRL Ranbaxy Ltd), Reference Laboratory, Mumbai - 400 093, India
| Date of Submission | 26-Jan-2009 | | Date of Acceptance | 20-Jul-2009 | | Date of Web Publication | 6-Jan-2010 | Correspondence Address:
V Nerurkar
Department of Microbiology, Super Religare Laboratories (Formerly SRL Ranbaxy Ltd), Reference Laboratory, Mumbai - 400 093
India
DOI: 10.4103/0255-0857.58734 PMID: 20061769 Rhizobium radiobacter is a gram negative bacillus that is infrequently recognized in clinical specimens but is emerging as an opportunistic human pathogen. Infections due to Rhizobium radiobacter are strongly related to the presence of foreign plastic material and effective treatment often requires removal of the device. We report a case of R. radiobacter bloodstream infection associated with a central venous catheter which was easily controlled by antimicrobial treatment and did not require removal of intravascular device. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report from India implicating R. radiobacter as a cause of human infection.
Keywords: Bloodstream infection, central venous catheter, Rhizobium radiobacter
How to cite this article:
Sood S, Nerurkar V, Malvankar S. Catheter associated bloodstream infection caused by R. radiobacter. Indian J Med Microbiol 2010;28:62-4 |
How to cite this URL:
Sood S, Nerurkar V, Malvankar S. Catheter associated bloodstream infection caused by R. radiobacter. Indian J Med Microbiol [serial online] 2010 [cited 2014 Mar 6];28:62-4. Available from: http://www.ijmm.org/text.asp?2010/28/1/62/58734 |
| ~ Introduction | |  |
The Rhizobium genus is most widely recognized as a plant pathogen. They are typically oxidase positive, aerobic, non spore forming gram negative rods that resemble CDC group Vd-3. [1] Their biochemical profile is notable for rapid hydrolysis of urea, O- nitrophenyl- β-D-galactopyranoside and aesculin. [2] The genus has been formed by reclassifying the Agro bacterium genus and Allorhizobium undicola together, based on comparative 16SrRNA gene analyses. Five species include Rhizobium radiobacter, Rhizobium rhizogenes, Rhizobium vitis, Rhizobium rubi and Rhizobium undicola. [2],[3] Although not without controversy, R. radiobacter is now commonly accepted as the new nomenclature for A. radiobacter, A. tumefaciens and CDC group Vd-3. [4] Of all the species, R. radiobacter is most commonly associated with human disease [5] and has been recognized as an opportunistic pathogen. The current case report describes a case of central venous catheter associated bloodstream infection caused by R. radiobacter.
| ~ Case Report | | |
A 51-year-old male was admitted to the coronary care unit of a tertiary care hospital in Jaipur in October, 2008, with a diagnosis of acute inferior wall myocardial infarction with triple vessel disease. The patient was a known case of diabetes (on oral hypoglycaemic drugs) and hypertension since two years. There was no other significant past history of disease or surgery. The patient also complained of recurring melena since 10 days. Hence, thrombolytic therapy with primary angioplasty was cancelled and the patient was advised coronary artery bypass grafting after evaluation for melena. Injection amikacin 500 mg BD and injection cefoperazone/sulbactam1 gm IV BD were started as per the protocol for prophylaxis for emergency intestinal surgery. A central venous catheter was inserted in the internal jugular vein. After a successful laparotomy, the patient developed fever (101.5F) after 48 hours of CVC insertion. Physical examination showed no evidence of any localised surgical site infection or inflammation. Complete blood count showed a WBC count of 9.3 thousands/ micro litres and a haemoglobin level of 9.7 g/ dl. Urine culture was found to be negative Blood was then collected simultaneously from 2 separate sites, the central line and peripheral arterial line and inoculated into separate commercial BACTEC vials for automated culture on the BACTEC 9050 system (Sparks, Maryland, U.S.A). The antibiotic regimen was changed to tigecycline 100 mg stat followed by 50 mg OD and Injection imipenem 500 mg six-hourly empirically. Propped up position, high flow oxygen mask, cold sponging and IV fluids were also added. The patient responded well and became afebrile within next 48 hours.
During the processing of samples in the microbiology lab, the BACTEC vial containing blood from the central line blood beeped positive two hours 15 minutes earlier than the vial with peripheral blood. Identical oxidase positive, urease positive, non lactose fermenting colonies were isolated from both the blood culture vials the next day. Both the isolates were sent to our reference laboratory in Mumbai (Super Religare Laboratories [Formerly, SRL Ranbaxy Limited], Andheri East, Mumbai) for identification and sensitivity testing. Both the isolates did not ferment carbohydrates except adonitol and oxidised glucose. Both were indole negative, voges proskauer negative, b-galactosidase negative and tryptophan deaminase negative. They hydrolysed aesculin, but did not utilize citrate, tartrate, malonate or acetate. They also did not decarboxylate ornithine, lysine and arginine. Using the Microscan; Walkaway SI automated identification and susceptibility system (Siemens, West Sacramento, California, USA)), both were separately identified as Rhizobium radiobacter. The identities were reconfirmed using the mini API system (Biomerieux, Marcy-l'Etoile, France) using the API GN ID; strips. The isolates were found to be sensitive to amikacin, cefepime, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, gatifloxacin, gentamicin, imipenem, levofloxacin, meropenem, piperacillin-tazobactum, tetracycline, ticarcillin-clavullanate and cotrimoxazole and demonstrated resistance to aztreonam.
Isolation of the same organism with similar susceptibilities from two blood cultures thus implicated R. radiobacter as the definitive cause of bacteraemia. Since it is validated that a definite diagnosis of catheter associated infection can be made if a positive catheter hub-blood culture is detected at least two hours earlier than peripheral-blood culture, [6] it was concluded that the patient was suffering from a central venous catheter associated bloodstream infection by R. radiobacter.
Though removal of the catheter is usually required to control catheter associated bloodstream infections, it was decided to not remove the device as the patient has already responded to the antibiotic treatment and become afebrile. Repeat blood cultures were also found sterile.
| ~ Discussion | | |
Human disease caused by members of the Rhizobium genus is uncommon. Two initial reports published in 1967 and 1977 found no evidence implicating them in human infectionsI despite isolation from clinical specimens. [5],[7] Agents were thought to represent colonisers or laboratory contaminants. It was not until 1980 that its pathogenic potential was recognized when it was identified as a causative agent of prosthetic valve endocarditis. [2] The organism is now recognised as an emerging opportunistic pathogen affecting mostly immunocompromised and chronically debilitated hosts. Underlying conditions contributing to disease include malignancies, bone marrow transplants, chronic renal failure and HIV infection. [8] Corticosteroid therapy and diabetes have also been identified as predisposing factors. [3]
Catheter related bacteraemia, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis associated peritonitis, urinary tract infections and pneumonia are the common clinical conditions caused by R. radiobacter. [3] Other clinical conditions include endocarditis, cellulitis, myositis, endopthalmitis and foetal death due to maternal and foetal bacteraemia. [8] Infection with R. radiobacter is often associated with the presence of a foreign plastic body such as central venous catheter, nephrostomy tubes, intraperitoneal catheters and prosthetic cardiac valves. The frequent correlation between these organisms and plastic indwelling devices can be attributed to the capacity of this organism to adhere to silicone tubes, comparable to that exhibited by Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. [2]
Catheter-related blood stream infection is the most frequent route of R. radiobacter infection and the usual presentation reported in literature, just as in our patient, is fever without localizing signs. Though there is one documented case report of R. radiobacter bacteraemia due to probable central venous catheter colonization from exposure to soil, [2] the mode of transmission remains largely unclear as most of the infections reported in literature give no history of unusual plant or soil exposure.
R. radiobacter infections are most commonly community acquired. [3] However, our case should be considered as nosocomial since the episode of blood stream infection identified by positive cultures occurred later than 48 hours of hospital admission. This implies the ubiquitous nature of R. radiobacter and its presence even in the hospital environment. The organism should thus be considered as a possible nosocomial pathogen and surveillance studies should be conducted to determine its reservoirs in hospital settings. Lai et al., have however reported the absence of nosocomial spread of the organism as pulse field gel electrophoresis profiles differed among the isolates recovered from different patients. [4]
There is no consensus regarding the need for removal of indwelling foreign devices to facilitate treatment of R. radiobacter infections. In our case, the central venous catheter was not removed due to clinical improvement in the patient and negative follow-up blood cultures. However, removal of catheter is recommended when there is clinical deterioration or the culture continues to yield R. radiobacter isolates longer than 48 hours of initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy. [9]
The outcome of R. radiobacter bacteraemia has been universally favourable with only a single documented case of mortality with foetal demise in surviving mother. [2]
Being natural soil inhabitants, R radiobacter strains may very well be inherently resistant to many antibacterial agents due to the presence of other antibiotic producing organisms in their habitat. Production of antibiotic inactivating enzymes including inducible cephalosporinase, an aminoglycoside acetyltransferase and chloramphenicol acetyl transferase has been previously described in a clinical isolate of R. radiobacter. [9]
Antibiotic regimens should not be based on results of disc diffusion susceptibility testing as reference breakpoints have not been standardized for R. radiobacter by the CLSI. The therapy might thus be best guided by Minimal inhibitory Concentration (MIC) testing results. [10] Third generation cephalosporins, fluroquinolones, extended spectrum beta lactams and carbapenems are the most frequently chosen antibiotics to treat R. radiobacter infections. [2]
| ~ Conclusion | | |
We thus report a case of central venous catheter associated R. radiobacter bloodstream infection that was easily controlled by antimicrobial treatment. This report emphasises the need for including R. radiobacter in the list of pathogens causing bacteraemia in immunocompetent patients, especially in the presence of an intravenous catheter.
| ~ References | | |
| 1. | Dunne WM Jr, Tillman J, Murray JC. Recovery of a strain of Agrobacterium radiobacter with a mucoid phenotype from an immunocompromised child with bacteremia. J Clin Microbiol 1993;31:2541-3.  [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] | | 2. | Chen CY, Hansen KS, Hansen LK. Rhizobium radiobacter as an opportunistic pathogen in central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infection: Case report and review. J Hosp Infect 2008;68:203-7. [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] | | 3. | Christakis GB, Alexaki P, Alivizatos AS, Chalkiopoulou I, Athanasiou AE, Zarkadis IK. Primary bacteraemia caused by Rhizobium radiobacter in a patient with solid tumors. J Med Microbiol 2006;55:1453-6. [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] | | 4. | Lai CC, Teng LJ, Hseuh PR, Yuan A, Tsai KC, Tang JL, et al. Clinical and microbiological characteristics of Rhizobium radiobacter infections. Clin Infect Dis 2004;38:149-53. | | 5. | Lautrop H. Agrobacterium spp.isolated from clinical specimens. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand Suppl 1967;187:63-4. | | 6. | Alejandria M, Surposa E. Differential time to positivity of hub blood versus peripheral blood cultures helps confirm the diagnosis of intravascular catheter-related bacteremia: A commentary. Phil J Microbiol Infect Dis 2001;30:153-4. | | 7. | Riley PS, Weaver RE. Comparison of thirty seven strains of Vd-3 bacteria with Agrobacterium radiobacter: Morphological and physiological observations. J Clin Microbiol 1977;5:172-7. [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] | | 8. | Paphitou NI, Rolston KVI. Catheter -related bacteremia caused by Agrobacterium radiobacter in a cancer patient: Case report and Literature review. Infection 2003;31:421-4. | | 9. | Amaya RA, Edmonds MS. Agrobacterium radiobacter bacteremia in pediatric patients: Case report and review. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2003;22:183-6. | | 10. | Edmond MB, Riddler SA, Baxter CM, Wicklund BM, Pasculle AW. Agrobacterium radiobacter: A recently recognized opportunistic pathogen. Clin Infect Dis 1993;16:388-91. [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
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