<i>Pantoea agglomerans</i> Bacteremia: Is It Dangerous?

Abstract

<i>Introduction</i>. <i>Pantoea agglomerans</i>, an anaerobic Gram-negative bacillus, is a rare cause of opportunistic infections affecting premature infants to seniors. We present a 34-year-old man who was presented for the management of diabetic ketoacidosis and developed <i>Pantoea agglomerans</i> bacteremia after one week of hospitalization. <i>Case Presentation</i>. A 34-year-old African-American male with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus type I and recurrent skin infections was admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis. He had left upper extremity abscess, preliminary wound cultures were positive for Gram-positive cocci, and an initial set of blood cultures were negative. He was started empirically on vancomycin. One week after admission, he started having chills followed by a recurrent increase in body temperature to 102 degrees Fahrenheit. The wound was healing, without active infection. Chest X-ray and CT scan of abdomen and pelvis to rule out infection were negative. Repeat blood cultures showed <i>P. agglomerans</i> in both the tubes. The patient was successfully treated with intravenous ceftriaxone, and he recovered fully without any complication. <i>Discussion</i>. <i>Pantoea agglomerans</i> is a bacteria associated with plants; however, it can infect humans and vertebrate animals. The outcome seems favourable with the institution of appropriate antibiotics even in immunocompromised patients.