Multidrug resistant Elizabethkingia meningoseptica bacteremia - Experience from a level 1 trauma centre in India

Elizabethkingia meningoseptica (E. meningoseptica) is a non-fermenting gram negative organism that is commonly detected in the soil and water but is rarely reported to cause human infection. However it is emerging as a nosocomial pathogen in patients admitted in intensive care units (ICUs). Infections caused by this organism have a high mortality rate due to lack of effective therapeutic regimens and its intrinsic resistance to multiple antibiotics. We report our experience in managing Elizabethkingia meningoseptica (E. meningoseptica) septicemia in our ICU patients with septic shock during prolonged intensive care management. Over a two year period four cases were admitted into the polytrauma ICU developed sepsis due to E. meningoseptica. All these patients were on mechanical ventilation, had central venous catheter (CVC) and were exposed to various broad spectrum antibiotics. Of the four patients, three died and one recovered. E. meningoseptica infection should be considered as a possible etiological agent of sepsis in patients who do not respond to empirical therapy, as this results in an inappropriate choice of antimicrobial therapy, leading to increased morbidity and mortality of patients. Its unusual resistance pattern along with inherent resistance to colistin makes this organism difficult to treat unless susceptibility patterns are available.