Chryseobacterium

Background

• Genus of aerobic, Gram-negative, nonfermentative bacilli within the family Flavobacteriaceae
• Ubiquitous in soil and water, and can survive chlorine treatment
• Can colonize hospital sinks and taps
• Mostly infect newborns and immunocompromised patients
• Species of clinical importance include:
  • Chryseobacterium meningosepticum, the most common pathogen in the genus, has been reclassified as Elizabethkingia meningoseptica
  • Chryseobacterium indologenes

Clinical Manifestations

• Case reports of bacteremia, meningitis, pneumonia, endocarditis, skin and soft tissue infections, ocular infections, and others

Management

• Often resistant to aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, clindamycin, and teicoplanin
• May be susceptible to fluoroquinolones, minocycline, and co-trimoxazole
• Oddly, may be treated with vancomycin