A Rare Case of Elizabethkingia meningoseptica Bacteremia After Liver Transplantation

Objective: Rare disease Background: Elizabethkingia meningoseptica is an emerging pathogen in hospital environments. Immunocompromised individuals have a high risk of infections caused by E. meningoseptica, especially after transplantation. E. meningoseptica is associated with prolonged hospital stays and high mortality. In addition, E. meningoseptica is commonly resistant to many antibiotics used for gram-negative bacterial infections. We introduce the first case of E. meningoseptica bacteremia in a recipient of a liver transplant in Vietnam. Case Report: A 55-year-old woman with end-stage liver disease due to biliary cirrhosis underwent living donor liver transplantation at the 108 Military Central Hospital. On day 3 after transplantation, the patient had an acute cellular rejection, and corticosteroid pulse therapy was used. On day 7 after transplantation, the patient had a fever and an increased white blood cell count and C-reactive protein level. Blood cultures were positive for E. meningoseptica. Intravenous levofloxacin was administered for 10 days. The patient showed an excellent treatment response to the antibiotic therapy and was discharged. Conclusions: E. meningoseptica, a multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria, can be considered an emerging pathogen in the hospital environment, especially in patients receiving organ transplants. Early recognition helps physicians to improve patient outcomes.