Increased recognition of Chryseobacterium species as an emerging cause of nosocomial urinary tract infection following introduction of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation-time of flight for bacterial identification

Abstract

Chryseobacterium species are rarely reported as aetiological agents of nosocomial urinary tract infection. Here, we evaluated the clinical significance of 19 isolates of Chryseobacterium species (15 Chryseobacterium indologenes and 4 Chryseobacterium gleum; identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation-time of flight [MALDI-TOF]) obtained from urine or percutaneous nephrostomy drainage of 16 patients with urological complaints. The strains possessed drug resistance to multiple antibiotics. 14 isolates showed the presence of carbapenemases. Both MALDI-TOF and repetitive sequence-based-polymerase chain reaction grouped them into three clusters (Kappa 1.000). They may colonise the urinary tract acting as a reservoir for dissemination of drug resistance within hospital environment.