Microbiology

• Member of Alcaligenes Genus (Achromobacter Family)
  • First isolated in 1896 by Petruschky from stale beer
  • Motile (flagellated)
  • Slender, slightly-curved
  • Aerobic
  • Non-fermenting, non-encapsulated Gram negative rod
  • Found in gastrointestinal tract as harmless saprophyte in 5-19% of the population

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Clinical Manifestations

General Comments

• Opportunistic Infection
  • Acquired from moist items: nebulizers, ventilators, lavage fluid

Gastrointestinal Manifestations

• Appendicitis (see Appendicitis, [[Appendicitis]])
• Enteric Fever
• Peritonitis: in setting of peritoneal dialysis

Neurologic Manifestations

• Meningitis (see Meningitis, [[Meningitis]])

Other Manifestations

• Abscess
• Arthritis (see Arthritis, [[Arthritis]])
• Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (see Otitis, [[Otitis]])
• Cystitis (see Urinary Tract Infection, [[Urinary Tract Infection]])
• Endocarditis (see Endocarditis, [[Endocarditis]])
• Pneumonia (see Pneumonia, [[Pneumonia]])
• Sepsis (see Sepsis, [[Sepsis]])

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References

• The finding of Bact. alcaligenes on blood culture: its significance in 17 unselected cases. Postgrad Med J1958 ;34 :484-8
• Postpartum bacterium Alcaligenes septicemia with meningeal involvement. J Indian Med Assoc1959 ;33 :513-14
• Alcaligenes faecalis septicemia. Indian J Pediatr 1983;50:687-9
• Bacteriological study of an Alcaligenes faecalis strain: a food poisoning epidemic. Indian J Pathol Bacteriol1963;37 :128-33
• Bacillus Alcaligenes infections. A clinical analysis of 33 cases. Chin Med J (Engl)1963 ;82 :423-31
• [Bacteremia caused by Alcaligenes (Achromobacter) xylosoxidans. Description of 3 cases and review of the literature]. [in Spanish] Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin1996;14 :436-40
• First reported case of Alcaligenes faecalis peritonitis. Perit Dial Int. 2010 Jan-Feb;30(1):118-9. doi: 10.3747/pdi.2009.00058 [MEDLINE]