Escherichia vulneris: an unusual cause of complicated diarrhoea and sepsis in an infant. A case report and review of literature. (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jain, S.; Nagarjuna, D.; Gaind, R.; Chopra, S.; Debata, P.K.; Dawar, R.; Sardana, R.; Yadav, M.
• Is Part Of: New microbes and new infections. Volume 13(2016)
• Page Start: 83
• Page End: 86
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: Complicated diarrhoea -- Escherichia vulneris -- hemolysin (hlyA) -- infant -- LT toxin -- sepsis; Medical microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; 616.9041
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nmni.2016.07.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2052-2975

Abstract

Abstract: Escherichia vulneris is an opportunistic human pathogen. It has been primarily reported in adult patients and invasive infections have been observed in immune-suppressed individuals. This is the first report of E. vulneris causing complicated diarrhoea and sepsis in an infant. Two month old sick infant, born full-term, was admitted to the paediatrics department with loose motions and refusal to feed for four days. E. vulneris was isolated from blood in pure culture. The isolate was characterized for diarrhoeal virulence markers: heat labile and heat stable toxins (LT, ST) and hemolysin ( hlyA ) by PCR. The presence of LT enterotoxin and hemolysin provides strong evidence of the diarrhoeagenic potential of E. vulneris, further leading to the invasive infection triggering sepsis. As E. vulneris can lead to serious complications, an attempt should be made in clinical laboratories to identify and further characterize this new Escherichia species.