Chromobacterium violaceum
From IDWiki
Microbiology
- Gram-negative bacterium
- Colonies are deep purple to black due to the presence of the violacein pigment
- Found in water
Epidemiology
- Mostly tropical or subtropical areas, especially southeast Asia
- Also in southeast US, most commonly Florida
- CGD is a risk factor for opportunistic infection, as is G6PD deficiency
Clinical Manifestations
- Causes wound infections following contaminated water exposure
- Always with systemic features, including fever (100%) and sepsis (82%)
- Often bacteremic (60%) and can involve visceral organs (51%), especially lung and liver
- High mortality (53%)
Differential Diagnosis for SSTI After Water Exposure
- Common bugs: Staph, Strep, polymicrobial, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli
- Uniquely marine bacteria: Aeromonas, Vibrio, Shewanella, Edwardsiella, Chromobacterium
- Others: Burkholderia pseudomallei, NTMs, some fungal infections
Management
- FQs, chloramphenicol, tetracyline, TMP-SMX, imipenem, gentamicin
Further Reading
- Chromobacterium violaceum infection: a clinical review of an important but neglected infection. J Chin Med Assoc. 2011;74(10):435-41.
