title: Chromobacterium Violaceum Sepsis: Rethinking Conventional Therapy to Improve Outcome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chromobacterium violaceum (C. violaceum) is a facultative anaerobic gram-negative bacterium found in soil and water, especially in tropical and subtropical areas. Although infection in humans is rare, it is associated with significant morbidity. The bacterium is known for its resistance to multiple antimicrobials, and the possibility of relapse and reinfection. Presence of bacteremia, disseminated infection, and ineffective antimicrobial agents are predictors of mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the case of a previously healthy 11-year-old male with C. violaceum sepsis who was exposed to stagnant water. He presented with severe septic shock and developed multi-organ system failure. Initial presumptive diagnosis was staphylococcal infection secondary to presence of skin abscesses resulting in antibiotic coverage with vancomycin, clindamycin, nafcillin and ceftriaxone. He also had multiple lung and liver abscesses. Once C. violaceum was identified, he received meropenem and ciprofloxacin, and was later discharged on ertapenem and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) to complete a total of six months of antibiotics. He was diagnosed with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) and is currently on prophylactic TMP-SMX and itraconazole. He has not had any relapses since his initial presentation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case highlights the importance of considering C. violaceum as a relevant human pathogen, and considering it early in temperate regions, particularly in cases of fulminant sepsis associated with multi-organ abscesses. Once C. violaceum is identified, appropriate antimicrobial therapy should be started promptly, and sufficient duration of treatment is necessary for successful therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lovvorn
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Sara E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Shannon A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Samford University, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Kim W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Benner
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Michele Y F
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Kong
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002861:Chromobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents