A Case of Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens Bacteremia Associated with Sugarcane Juice Ingestion

Abstract

Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens is a Gram-negative bacterium that has previously been described as a plant pathogen. To the best of our knowledge, only one previous case of human infection with Gluconacetobacter species has been described and was associated with severe immunodeficiency. We describe a case of recurrent Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens bacteremia in a patient with advanced liver cirrhosis and propose that gut translocation in the setting of portal hypertension and frequent sugarcane juice ingestion may have been the etiology. This case expands on our knowledge of Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens as a potential emerging human pathogen in certain situations and describes the difficulty encountered in antimicrobial testing and management.

Complete genome sequence of Gluconobacter frateurii ML.ISBL3, an endophytic strain isolated from aerial roots of Syngonium podophyllum

“…Preferring sugar-rich and relatively low-nitrogen environments ( 1 ), Gluconobacter spp. are commonly associated with plants ( 7 – 9 ), plant-feeding insect guts ( 10 ), and the spoilage of soft drinks and juices ( 11 , 12 ); only rarely are they sources of infection ( 13 , 14 ).…”

Identification and Characterization of a Novel Bacterial Species Found in the Lebanese Soil. (c2022)

“…The antimicrobial susceptibility test resistance to chloramphenicol (MIC ≥ 256 µg/mL) followed by ciprofloxacin, TMP-SMX, and meropenem, all three having a MIC ≥ 32 µg/mL. G. liquefaciens were susceptible to gentamicin (MIC ≥ 0.125 µg/mL) and tetracycline (MIC ≥ 1 µg/mL) (Olenski et al, 2020). Our results alongside these two case reports show the resistance of this genus to antibiotics and the possible emergence of Gluconacetobacter species as a human pathogen, specifically in immunocompromised patients.…”