Isaac Freelander¹, Michael Findlay

¹Department of Microbiology, NSW Health Pathology, Kingswood, NSW, Australia 

Ochrobactrum anthropi is a non-fermentative gram-negative bacillus in the Brucellaceae family, which is increasingly being recognised as an opportunistic pathogen. Despite its low virulence, due to its ubiquity and persistence in the environment, this organism has been implicated in a wide range of infections including catheter-associated bacteraemia, endocarditis, osteomyelitis and meningitis.¹ Treatment may be complicated by broad-spectrum beta-lactam resistance, mediated by a chromosomal AmpC-like beta-lactamase.² We describe an episode of Ochrobactrum anthropi bacteraemia in an immunocompetent host, in what we believe to be the first case associated with ozone therapy reported in the literature. After an initial period of septic shock requiring vasopressor support, the patient was ultimately switched to ciprofloxacin therapy and made a complete recovery. This case highlights the diagnostic and treatment challenges associated with the isolation of rare pathogens, and the pressing need for ongoing regulation of alternative therapies.

References:

1. Hagiya H, Ohnishi K, Maki M, et al. Clinical characteristics of Ochrobactrum anthropi bacteremia. J Clin Microbiol. 2013; 51(4): 1330-3.

2. Nadjar D, Labia R, Cerceau C, et al. Molecular characterization of chromosomal class C beta-lactamase and its regulatory gene in Ochrobactrum anthropi. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2001; 45(8): 2324-30.