Catheter-Related Bacteremia in a Hemodialysis Unit: Cronobacter Sakazakii

In this study, a case of catheter-related bacteremia caused by Cronobacter sakazakii, which was successfully treated with antibiotic therapy, was presented. Since 1989, cases of contamination of powder infant formula caused by C. sakazakii have been reported. However, adult infections related to C. sakazakii are exceedingly rare.

A 61-year-old male patient was in dialysis treatment with chronic renal failure and blood cultures were taken from peripheral veins and catheter because of fever. At the same time, moxifloxacin (400 mg/day iv) and ampicillin-sulbactam (1 g/day iv) were started as empirical therapy. One bacterium was detected on blood cultures obtained from peripheral veins and catheters and this bacterium was identified as C. sakazakii by the VITEK 2 Compact automated system. The species identification of the isolated strain was confirmed by 16S rRNA sequence analysis. The treatment of the patient, who was thought to represent a case of catheter-related bacteremia, was continued and the catheter was not removed since subsequent cultures did not reveal any bacterial growth. To our knowledge, the presented case is the first bacteremia related to C. sakazakii from Turkey. As a result, C. sakazakii is an infection agent that we have recently encountered and may pose a threat to public health.