title: Relative frequency, characteristics, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Vibrio spp., Aeromonas spp., Chromobacterium violaceum, and Shewanella spp. in the northern territory of Australia, 2000-2013.
abstract: Vibrio, Aeromonas, Chromobacterium violaceum, and Shewanella (VACS) are water-associated Gram-negative organisms that can cause a variety of infections. The frequency, patient characteristics, and antimicrobial susceptibilities for 468 isolates from 442 patients from the Northern Territory were reviewed. Aeromonas spp. (312 of 468; 67%) were most commonly isolated followed by Vibrio spp. (71 of 468; 15%), Shewanella spp. (61 of 468; 13%), and C. violaceum (24 of 468; 5%). A strong male predominance was found (male to female ratio of 2.3:1). Skin and soft tissue isolations (373 of 468; 80%) from lower limb infections (222 of 371; 60%) were the most common clinical manifestation. The episodes were usually polymicrobial (281 of 468; 60%). Coisolates included Staphylococcus aureus (137 of 468; 29%), β-hemolytic streptococci (74 of 468; 16%), enterobacteriaceae (111 of 468; 24%), non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli (35 of 468; 7%), and other VACS organisms (37 of 468; 8%). Antimicrobial resistance of VACS organisms to ciprofloxacin (0-4%), cefepime (0-3%), and gentamicin (0-0.8%) and Vibrio spp., Aeromonas spp., and Shewanella to cotrimoxazole (0-3%) was rarely shown. For water-associated lower limb skin and soft tissue infections in the tropics, clinicians should consider empirical antimicrobial therapy with agents active against S. aureus and VACS organisms.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia mcauliffegary@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Gary N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: McAuliffe
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
authors.forename: Jann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hennessy
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Baird
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000333:Aeromonas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002861:Chromobacterium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015876:Northern Territory / Q000453:epidemiology; D020592:Shewanella / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014733:Vibrio / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D055815:Young Adult