Are Myroides spp. Isolated From Urinary Catheter Cultures of Patients in Intensive Care Units an Infection or Colonization? Analysis of 36 Cases

• Published in: Turk Yogun bakim Dernegi Dergisi Vol. 22; no. 3; pp. 207 - 211
• Main Authors: Yücel Duman, Döndü Çelik, Emine Nalan Parmaksız, Yasemin Ersoy, Ayşe Belin Özer
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Galenos Yayinevi 01.09.2024
• Subjects: colonization; myroides species; urinary tract infections
• ISSN: 2146-6416; 2147-267X
• DOI: 10.4274/tybd.galenos.2023.64497

Objective: Myroides species are mostly low-grade opportunistic pathogens and infect immunocompromised patients. Reports of Myroides spp. increased from clinical samples due to unique developments in molecular microbiology. However, clinical importance of this microorganism in intensive care units’ patients is debated. We aimed to determine whether Myroides spp. strains isolated from urinary catheter cultures of patients in intensive care units are led to an infection or colonization by examining the risk factors of the patients between January 2018 and December 2022. Materials and Methods: In a university hospital, the patients who Myroides spp.isolated from urine cultures in intensive care units between January 2018 and December 2022 were included in the study. The method and reasons of taking urine samples, the presence of a urinary catheter, blood cultures samples in terms of urinary sepsis, the antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates, and hospital stay were evaluated retrospectively. Also, control culture samples were taken after 24 and 72 hours by changing the urinary catheters of these patients. Results: Thirty-six patients were enrolled to the study. Urine cultures were taken for investigate the source of infection in 23 patients, and nine for control urinary culture and in three patients for macroscopic urine blurred and in one patient to detect colonization before urinary surgery. There was not any blood culture positivity found. All Myroides spp. isolated patients had urinary catheter. Average length of hospital stay was determined as 41.3 days (7-355). A total 34 of the 36 isolated Myroides spp. were pan-drug resistant. Antibacterial treatment was not initiated in any of the patients. Urinary catheters change after first isolation of Myroides spp. was recommended in all patients. After the patients’ urinary catheters were changed, Myroides spp. were not grown in the control culture samples taken 24 and 72 hours after. Conclusion: As a result of our study, Myroides spp. were isolated especially in patients with long hospital stays and urinary catheters. It was determined that the patients were controlled without treatment, only with urinary catheter replacement. We believe that this agent should be evaluated as having a very high rate of urinary colonization, and the urinary catheter should be changed first, urinary symptoms should be followed up, and unnecessary antimicrobial use should be avoided.