Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infections of intact skin: a systematic review of the literature

• Published in: Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease Vol. 63; no. 3; pp. 330 - 333
• Main Authors: Bin Abdulhak, Aref A, Zimmerman, Valerie, Al Beirouti, Bassim T, Baddour, Larry M, Tleyjeh, Imad M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.03.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Cellulitis; Child; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections - drug therapy; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections - microbiology; Humans; Infectious Disease; Infectious diseases; Internal Medicine; Male; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Skin Diseases, Bacterial - drug therapy; Skin Diseases, Bacterial - microbiology; Stenotrophomonas; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia - isolation & purification; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination - therapeutic use; Cellulitis; Stenotrophomonas; Pseudomonadales; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia; Skin disease; Microbiology; Taxonomy; Review; Infection; Bacteria; Pseudomonadaceae; Skin; Adipose tissue disorders
• ISSN: 0732-8893; 1879-0070
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2008.11.003

Abstract To highlight the importance of intact skin infection syndromes caused by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia , we review 17 reported cases. Skin infection syndrome presentations included metastatic cellulitis (58%), primary cellulitis (23%), and ecthyma gangrenosum (17%). Associated risk factors were hematologic malignancies and chemotherapy (94%), neutropenia (94%), presence of central venous catheter (17%), and exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics (84%). The diagnosis was supported by cultures of skin biopsy specimens (35%), blood cultures (24%), or both (41%). Trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole was the treatment of choice (76%), and outcomes were favorable (71%).