Sphingobacterium multivorum cellulitis: case report and mini-review

Background

Sphingobacterium multivorum is a gram-negative, non-fermentative, oxidase-positive, catalase-positive bacillus. S multivorum has been identified in urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections, spontaneous peritonitis, septic arthritis, meningitis, bacteraemia and septic shock. Ours is the second case of skin and soft tissue infection sustained by S. multivorum (a case of necrotizing fasciitis with septic shock has been previously reported). In this paper, we furnish a review of the literature on all the cases of S multivorum described in the medical literature (with the different antimicrobial susceptibility profiles for each case).

Case presentation

We describe the case of a dermo-hypodermitis of the right arm, forearm, and postero-lateral abdominal wall sustained by S multivorum. The infection occurred in an 84-year-old woman with a medical history of type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and refractory psoriatic arthritis treated with tocilizumab.

Discussion

S multivorum is a ubiquitous gram-negative bacillus, characterized by a variable antibiotic susceptibility profile that is difficult to anticipate.

Conclusion

S multivorum is an opportunistic pathogen capable of causing rare but potentially severe infections in patients of all age groups, with a higher prevalence in immunocompromised individuals, as observed in our case.".