Three cases of Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens bacteremia confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing

Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens prosthetic joint infection

Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens is a rare anaerobic pathogen that is implicated in sporadic cases of bacteremia and diarrhea, usually in immunocompromised patients. We describe a case of prosthetic joint infection in a 71 year old male who presented with right hip pain. Anaerobic cultures from tissue specimen grew a spiral-shaped gram-negative rod, identified as A. succiniciproducens by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The patient was treated successfully with IV cefoxitin for 6 weeks. To our knowledge this is only the third reported case of prosthetic joint infection due to A. succiniciproducens.

MALDI-TOF MS for rapid diagnosis of Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens, an unusual causative agent of bacteraemia in humans. Two case reports and literature review

Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens is a gram-negative anaerobic spiral rod which is part of the normal flora of dogs and cats and can produce bacteraemia and diarrhoea in humans. In this report we describe two cases of bacteraemia caused by A. succiniciproducens which was successfully identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). We present a comprehensive literature review of 48 cases of A. succiniciproducens bacteraemia in which we describe previous underlying conditions, clinical presentations, identification methodology and antibiotic susceptibility data.

Septic peritonitis in a dog caused by Anaerobiospirillum succiniproducens

This is the first reported case of septic peritonitis caused by Anaerobiospirillum succiniproducens in a dog. The infection was associated with marked exfoliation of reactive mesothelial cells into the abdominal fluid mimicking neoplasia. The source of the infection was not determined but was presumed to be of gastrointestinal origin as A succiniproducens is part of the normal gastrointestinal flora of dogs. Anaerobiospirillum spp. have been previously reported as causing diarrhea and bacteremia in people, particularly if immunocompromised; however, there were no indicators for a compromised immune system in this dog.

Phase I study evaluating the safety and efficacy of oral panobinostat in combination with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in patients with inoperable stage III non-small-cell lung cancer

Panobinostat is a radiosensitizing agent and targets the epigenetics of malignancy. This phase I study evaluated the safety and efficacy of combining oral panobinostat with radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with inoperable stage III non-small-cell lung cancer. This study had a parallel dose-escalating design combining oral panobinostat twice a week (dose escalations 20, 30, 45 mg) with either palliative RT (group A) or radical CRT (group B) using a standard chemotherapy protocol of cisplatin and etoposide. In group A (RT), nine recruited patients received treatment with oral panobinostat (doses 20, 30, 45 mg) with RT. Two serious adverse events, rapid atrial fibrillation and tracheo-oesophageal fistula, were not attributable to study treatment. The most common grade 3/4 toxicities were thrombocytopenia and lymphopenia, which resolved promptly after cessation of panobinostat. The disease control rate was 66%, the progression-free survival was 3 months and the median overall survival was 9 months. In group B (CRT), panobinostat dose was not escalated beyond 20 mg because of infection-related complications. Serious adverse events included opportunistic infection associated with treatment-related lymphopenia and febrile neutropenia without a source. One patient had cerebral infarct that was not attributed to study treatment. All patients achieved a partial response to treatment. At 33 months of follow-up, all patients were still alive. Panobinostat can be combined with palliative-dose RT at doses up to 45 mg twice a week with tolerable toxicity. Dose-limiting toxicities prevented the dose escalation of the panobinostat with CRT.

Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens-induced bacteremia in a healthy man

Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens is rarely associated with bacteremia but results in significant mortality. Almost all reported bacteremia cases have occurred in immunocompromised hosts, such as those with alcoholic liver disease, atherosclerosis, recent surgery, malignancies, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. We describe here, to our knowledge, the first clinical evidence for A succiniciproducens bacteremia in a healthy man. A 61-year-old man had fallen from a roof and was admitted to our emergency department with severe left flank pain without an external wound. He was given transcatheter arterial embolization for the left kidney injury on the same day, and his condition stabilized. Four days after admission, he had fever without gastrointestinal signs and symptoms. Spiral-shaped, gram-negative anaerobic bacteria were isolated from 2 sets of blood cultures, and the oxidase and catalase test results were negative. The isolated bacteria were different from the Campylobacter spp. On the next day, the bacteria were confirmed as A succiniciproducens by 16S rRNA sequencing. The patient responded to sulbactam/ampicillin. On day 13, the patient was discharged with a 7-day prescription for oral amoxicillin/clavulanate. Six months after admission, the patient was free of recurrent infection. A succiniciproducens bacteremia can occur in healthy adults. When large gram-negative spiral-shaped bacteria are detected, this bacterial species should be considered and differentiated from the Campylobacter spp because A succiniciproducens is often resistant to macrolide antibiotics.

Bloodstream infection with Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens: a potentially lethal infection

Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens (A succiniciproducens), a spiral, Gram-negative anaerobic rod which is part of the normal intestinal flora of cats and dogs, has rarely been reported as a cause of bacteremia and diarrhea in humans, particularly in immunocompromised hosts. Although it can be associated with significant mortality, the full extent of its pathogenicity, clinical spectrum, and optimal therapy remain to be determined. We review the available literature on microbiology, clinical manifestations, and treatment options for Anaerobiospirillum infection.

First report of treatment of Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens bloodstream infection with levofloxacin

The full extent of the clinical spectrum and optimal therapy of Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens infections remains to be determined. We describe the first case of bloodstream infection (BSI) due to A. succiniciproducens in an asymptomatic elderly male with poor dentition that was treated with levofloxacin.

Succinatimonas hippei gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from human faeces

A novel strictly anaerobic, non-spore-forming, non-motile, non-flagellated, rod-shaped, Gram-negative bacterium (YIT 12066T) was isolated from human faeces. The isolate was negative for catalase, oxidase, urease, hydrolysis of aesculin and gelatin, nitrate reduction and indole production. The major end products of glucose metabolism were succinate and acetate. The major cellular fatty acids (>10%) were C14:0, C18:1omega7c, C18:1omega9c, C16:1omega7c and C16:0. The G+C content of the DNA was 40.3 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain YIT 12066T was most closely related to members of the family Succinivibrionaceae, with sequence similarity of 92-87%. However, some phenotypic characteristics such as cellular morphology and the major fatty acid profile of strain YIT 12066T were markedly different from those of other members of the family Succinivibrionaceae. On the basis of both phylogenetic and phenotypic evidence, it is suggested that strain YIT 12066T represents a novel species in a new genus, for which the name Succinatimonas hippei gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain of Succinatimonas hippei is YIT 12066T (=DSM 22608T =JCM 16073T).

Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens bacteraemia in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

A 17-year-old man with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia had fever and diarrhoea during a febrile neutropenic episode. A spiral-shaped, Gram-negative anaerobic bacterium was isolated from blood, and confirmed as Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens by 16S rRNA sequencing. The patient responded to imipenem.

PCR-based diagnostics for anaerobic infections

Conventional methods to identify anaerobic bacteria have often relied on unique clinical findings, isolation of organisms, and laboratory identification by morphology and biochemical tests (phenotypic tests). Although these methods are still fundamental, there is an increasing move toward molecular diagnostics of anaerobes. In this review, some of the molecular approaches to anaerobic diagnostics based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are discussed. This includes several technological advances in PCR-based methods for the detection, identification, and quantitation of anaerobes including real-time PCR which has been successfully used to provide rapid, quantitative data on anaerobic species on clinical samples. Since its introduction in the mid-1980s, PCR has provided many molecular diagnostic tools, some of which are discussed within this review. With the advances in micro-array technology and real-time PCR methods, the future is bright for the development of accurate, quantitative diagnostic tools that can provide information not only on individual anaerobic species but also on whole communities.

Ileocolitis associated with Anaerobiospirillum in cats

Ileocolitis associated with spiral bacteria identified as an Anaerobiospirillum sp. was found in six cats. Two cats had acute onset of gastrointestinal signs characterized by vomiting and diarrhea in one cat and vomiting in another cat, one cat had chronic diarrhea that was refractory to medical therapy; one cat had acute onset of anorexia and lethargy, and two cats had clinical signs that were not related to the gastrointestinal tract. The presence of an Anaerobiospirillum sp. was demonstrated on the basis of ultrastructural morphology of spiral bacteria associated with intestinal lesions and PCR amplification of a genus-specific 16S rRNA gene from affected tissues from each cat. The colons of three clinically healthy cats without lesions and one cat with mild colitis not associated with spiral bacteria were negative for Anaerobiospirillum spp. in the same assay. Comparative nucleotide sequence analysis of cloned PCR products from three affected cats further suggested that the spiral bacteria were closely related to Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens.

Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens bacteraemia

This report describes a case of bacteraemia caused by Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens. Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens is a rare cause of bacteraemia in humans, and when encountered usually occurs in immunocompromised patients. The organism is an anaerobic, spiral shaped, Gram negative bacillus with bipolar tufts of flagella. In this report, the morphology, with special reference to electron microscopic features, culture characteristics, and antimicrobial susceptibility are described.

Isolation and characterization of Campylobacter, Helicobacter, and Anaerobiospirillum strains from a puppy with bloody diarrhea

We carried out a microscopic examination of stools from a 2-month-old female puppy with bloody diarrhea, and this revealed large numbers of different spiral-shaped bacteria. To isolate these organisms, a rectal swab specimen was inoculated onto plates of Skirrow's agar and incubated at 37 degrees C for 6 days in a microaerobic atmosphere. Finally, a total of six different spiral-shaped bacteria (strains G1104, 94105, FR106, B0101, 3J102, and J2103) were isolated. Based on their morphology, biochemical traits, whole-cell protein profiles, and analysis of their 16S rDNA sequences, they were identified as Campylobacter upsaliensis, Helicobacter cinaedi, 'Flexispira rappini', two Anaerobiospirillum spp. with different morphologies, and Helicobacter sp., respectively. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence data for strains 94150 (H. cinaedi) and FR106 (F. rappini) revealed that this approach has limitations when identifying isolates to the species level because of a high degree of sequence homology between these species (>99%) and considerable sequence variation among different isolates within these species. The dog was treated orally with amoxicillin for 3 days, which resolved the diarrhea. However, 1 day after the last dose the bloody diarrhea recurred but regarded to six more days amoxicillin treatment. This suggests a bacterial cause for the diarrhea. The approach to identification to microaerobic spiral-shaped bacteria in diarrheic dogs can be applied further to characterize their role in diarrhea illness.

Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens bacteremia in a young child

We report a case of Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens bacteremia in a young child who had no underlying disease. The case should alert microbiologists and physicians to an uncommon organism that is very often resistant to antibiotics normally prescribed empirically for infections caused by organisms of similar morphology and characteristics such as Campylobacter species.

Ultrastructural characterization of Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens and its differentiation from Campylobacter species

The anaerobic spiral-shaped bacterium Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens was isolated from the blood of an AIDS patient for the first time in Europe. Electron-microscopical methods, especially negative staining, allowed rapid morphological classification and differentiation from Campylobacter species. While A. succiniciproducens revealed lophotriche flagellation all the investigated Campylobacter species showed monotriche flagellation. The cell diameter of A. succiniciproducens was at least double that of the investigated Campylobacter species. Other ultrastructural features, such as a ring-like structure underneath the flagellar area and fibrils arranged parallel along the axis, were also specific to A. succiniciproducens.