Pantoea agglomerans: A rare infectious outbreak affecting maintenance hemodialysis patients in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Pantoea agglomerans is an environmental pathogen known to cause infection in immunocompromised individuals, particularly after thorn injuries. However, previous data showed few cases of human disease caused by contaminated medical products such as parenteral nutrition, anesthetic agents, blood, and peritoneal dialysis solutions. Infection in hemodialysis patients is rare. In this study, we presented a detailed account of several hemodialysis patients infected with this contagious pathogen and compared them with noninfected dialysis patients. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the hospital records of 105 hemodialysis patients. Seventeen of 105 patients were diagnosed with P. agglomerans infection. We carefully analyzed their entire in-hospital course. Results: Among infected patients, 52.9% were male with a median age of 49 (IQR: 32-66) years. Compared to the noninfected patients, age below 50 years, prior kidney transplantation, prior immunosuppression and antibiotics use, and dialysis via a tunneled vascular catheter were the significant epidemiological features. Despite negative microbiological investigations, we suspect the possible infectious spread via infected central venous catheter was the likely infectious source. Most importantly, all patients responded well to intravenous antibiotics. Only two patients required the removal of the tunneled catheter. Their mortality rate was 0%. Conclusion: P. agglomerans infection, although considered rare, is becoming increasingly prevalent among dialysis patients. Its occurrence must be appraised as an infectious outbreak rather than mere contamination. Prompt treatment, source identification, and early implementation of preventive strategies should always be the goal to curtail this infection at an early stage.

Automated summary

This study provides a detailed account of several hemodialysis patients infected with Pantoea agglomerans, a contagious pathogen. The research compares the infected patients with non-infected dialysis patients and identifies specific epidemiological features of the infection. Despite negative microbiological investigations, the study suggests that the likely infectious source is the infected central venous catheter. Prompt treatment and early implementation of preventive strategies are crucial in managing and curbing this infection.