title: Risk factors associated with Sphingomonas paucimobilis infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sphingomonas paucimobilis is rarely isolated from clinical specimens and it is associated with a great variety of infections. The aim of this study is to investigate the microbiological and clinical features of S paucimobilis infection in southern Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  S paucimobilis isolates from the microbiology laboratory of Chi-Mei Medical Center and their relevant clinical data from October 2005 to October 2009 were retrospectively reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 55 patients with documented S paucimobilis infections were identified. Among them, 29 (52.7%) have community-acquired infections and 13 of them presented with primary bacteremia (44.8%). Multivariate logistic regression showed that community-acquired infection [adjusted odds ratio 13.473, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.79-101.41, p = 0.01], diabetes mellitus (adjusted odds ratio 7.03, 95% CI 1.16-42.66, p = 0.03), and alcoholism (adjusted OR 10.87, 95% CI 1.00-117.69, p = 0.05) were significant risk factors for S paucimobilis primary bacteremia. Most of those who have health care-associated S paucimobilis infections presented with pneumonia (10 of 26, 38.5%) and only 7.7% presented with catheter-related infection. The overall mortality rate was 5.5%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Community-acquired S paucimobilis infections were not uncommon, mainly presenting with primary bacteremia. Multivariate analysis showed that community-acquired infection, diabetes mellitus, and alcoholism were significant risk factors for primary bacteremia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Han-Siong
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Toh
authors.forename: Hung-Tze
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Tay
authors.forename: Wei-Khie
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Kuar
authors.forename: Tzu-Chieh
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: Hung-Jen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Che-Kim
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020578:Sphingomonas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*