Keimyung Med J.  2015 Jun;34(1):29-33. 10.0000/kmj.2015.34.1.29.

Fatal Wound Infection by Chromobacterium violaceum after Open Ankle Fracture Surgery

• Kim HA
• Ryu SY

• KMID: 2093085
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/kmj.2015.34.1.29

Abstract

Chromobacterium violaceum (C. violaceum) is a gram negative, facultative anaerobe widely distributed in natural aquatic environments and is sensitive to temperature. Its infection has a predilection to tropical or subtropical regions that between latitude 35degrees N and 35degrees S. Infection due to C. violaceum is rare. But human infection with this organism can result in severe, systemic disease with a high fatality rate. C. violaceum infection may rapidly progress to sepsis with multiple organ abscesses, predominantly in lungs, liver, and spleen. The organism is usually resistant to most antibiotics commonly prescribed for gram-negative bacterial infection like aminoglycosides, extended spectrum beta-lactam antibiotics etc. In Korea, two cases of C. violaceum infections were reported in patients injured in a Guam airplane accident, and one case was reported local C. violaceum infection. Here, we report a case of fatal C. violaceum postoperative wound infection in Korea.

Keyword

Chromobacterium; Sepsis; Wound infection

MeSH Terms

Abscess
Aircraft
Aminoglycosides
Ankle Fractures*
Ankle*
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Chromobacterium*
Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections
Guam
Humans
Korea
Liver
Lung
Sepsis
Spleen
Surgical Wound Infection
Wound Infection*
Wounds and Injuries*
Aminoglycosides
Anti-Bacterial Agents