A Rare Infectious Agent: Elizabethkingia anophelis; Second Case Reported from Turkey

Abstract

Elizabethkingia anophelis is a Gram-negative, aerobic, nonmotile bacillus belonging to the Flavobacteriaceae family. In recent years, it has emerged as a cause of life-threatening infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. In this study, a 6-month-old baby patient with E. anophelis growth in simultaneous tracheal aspirate and urine culture samples sent to investigate the etiology of fever while being followed in the intensive care unit due to the diagnosis of optic glioma is presented. Bacteria identification was performed using the VITEK MS (R) system, antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed using the VITEK 2 automated system and gradient strip test. Our case is the second E.anophelis case reported from Turkey. This case showed that this bacterium would start to appear as a factor in our country. More studies are needed to obtain more detailed information about this bacterium, to determine its transmission routes and resistance mechanisms and to establish appropriate treatment protocols.