title: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: an emerging opportunist human pathogen.
abstract: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia has emerged as an important opportunistic pathogen in the debilitated host. S maltophilia is not an inherently virulent pathogen, but its ability to colonise respiratory-tract epithelial cells and surfaces of medical devices makes it a ready coloniser of hospitalised patients. S maltophilia can cause blood-stream infections and pneumonia with considerable morbidity in immunosuppressed patients. Management of infection is hampered by high-level intrinsic resistance to many antibiotic classes and the increasing occurrence of acquired resistance to the first-line drug co-trimoxazole. Prevention of acquisition and infection depends upon the application of modern infection-control practices, with emphasis on the control of antibiotic use and environmental reservoirs.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: W John
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Looney
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Narita
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mühlemann
mesh_terms: D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D020615:Stenotrophomonas maltophilia / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination