Infect Chemother.  2012 Jun;44(3):205-209. 10.3947/ic.2012.44.3.205.

Development of Arthrobacter woluwensis Bacteremia in a Patient with Multiple Myeloma: A Case Report and Comprehensive Literature Review

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. shhan74@yuhs.ac
  • 2AIDS Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 3Department of Laboratory Medicine and Research Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Arthrobacter spp., which are coryneform gram-positive bacilli, are widely distributed in the environment, including soil. In humans, infection with Arthrobacter is recognized as an opportunistic infection. In particular, since the first reported case in 1996, human infection by A. woluwensis has been reported only four times. We report on a case of A. woluwensis bacteremia in a 76-year-old female patient with multiple myeloma. Performance of 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses resulted in identification of A. woluwensis. The patient was treated with teicoplanin, and the central venous port was removed. Since then, no growth has been observed on repeated blood cultures. The patient was discharged well after the fever subsided.

Keyword

Arthrobacter woluwensis; Multiple myeloma; Bacteremia

MeSH Terms

Aged
Arthrobacter
Bacteremia
Female
Fever
Genes, rRNA
Humans
Multiple Myeloma
Opportunistic Infections
Sequence Analysis
Soil
Teicoplanin
Soil
Teicoplanin

Figure

  • Figure 1 Flow sheet for clinical course and use of antibiotics.

  • Figure 2 Gram positive bacilli were isolated from blood on the 26th hospital day (H&E stain, ×400).

  • Figure 3 Gram positive bacilli isolated from blood formed white bacterial colonies on blood agar medium at 35℃ in ambient air on the 30th hospital day.


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