Pantoea dispersa bacteremia in an immunocompetent patient: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

BackgroundPantoea is a Gram-negative, non-encapsulated, non-spore-forming, ubiquitous straight rod which can be isolated from geographical and ecological sources such as plant surfaces, buckwheat seeds, human feces, and the environment. The genus Pantoea is a rare pathogen in a clinical setting, and is divided into 20 different species such as Pantoea agglomerans, Pantoea ananatis, Pantoea deleyi, Pantoea dispersa, Pantoea septica, Pantoea stewartii or Pantoea rwandensis. Pantoea dispersa has been reported to cause other infections, including respiratory infections, neonatal sepsis, and bloodstream infections. We report a case of Pantoea dispersa bacteremia caused by acute cholangitis. This is the first case report of Pantoea dispersa bacteremia caused by acute cholangitis as far as we had searched.Case presentationA 38-year-old Japanese woman suffered from acute cholangitis; a blood culture showed that Gram-negative rod was positive. The treatment was successful with intravenously administered meropenem, and it was switched to orally administered levofloxacin according to microbiological susceptibility. The organism was identified as Pantoea dispersa by both genetic investigation by 16S ribosomal RNA and additional biochemical tests. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of Pantoea dispersa bacteremia caused by acute cholangitis.ConclusionThe epidemiology and clinical features of Pantoea dispersa are still unknown. More cases of infections caused by Pantoea dispersa might be revealed with advancing technical methods, such as matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry or 16S ribosomal RNA analysis. Physicians must know that a variety of infections caused by Pantoea dispersa could occur in immunocompromised as well as immunocompetent patients.

Culturable Bacterial Community on Leaves of Assam Tea (Camellia sinensis var. assamica) in Thailand and Human Probiotic Potential of Isolated Bacillus spp.

“…The genus Pantoea has been generally found in plant surfaces as well as human feces. Some species have also been reported as human pathogens leading to bacteremia [ 62 ]. The existence of mammal microbial flora on Assam tea leaves indicates the close relationship between human, animals, and Assam tea plants.…”

Healthcare-Associated Laboratory-Confirmed Bloodstream Infections—Species Diversity and Resistance Mechanisms, a Four-Year Retrospective Laboratory-Based Study in the South of Poland

“…It is worth noting that some non-pathogenic species of human microflora are isolated from BSIs in immunocompetent patients: Gemella morbillorum was isolated from a healthy 5-month-old baby [ 26 ], Pantoea dispersa from an immunocompetent 38-year-old woman [ 27 ], Rothia mucilaginosa from a 9-month-old baby [ 28 ], and Brevibacterium paucivorans from an older patient [ 29 ]. Some species described so far as rare pathogens emerge more and more frequently in BSI and are becoming significant human pathogens, such as Kocuria rhizophila isolated from catheter-related BSIs [ 30 , 31 ].…”

Prevalence of Emerging Pathogens Cronobacter spp. and Pantoea dispersa in Low Moisture Foods

“…Pantoea dispersa has been described as an opportunistic or secondary pathogen; therefore, infections are likely to be very mild or self-limiting in most individuals (35). Nevertheless, recent studies have revealed the presence of this pathogen in health care settings (3,4,20,32,34,36), where it has been associated with various pathologies including lung infection, bacteremia, neonatal infections, and septicemia. Hence, caution should be exercised during the handling of LMFs in neonatal care, health care settings, and homes for the elderly.…”