MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Eikenella corrodens isolated from pleural effusion: A case report

Summary

A 67-year-old patient developed a severe lung infection called empyema caused by a rare bacterium called Eikenella corrodens. Doctors drained infected fluid from the patient’s lungs and identified the bacterium through laboratory testing using special culture techniques and chemical tests. The patient received antibiotics but unfortunately died after 22 days despite treatment. This case highlights the importance of extended laboratory testing and improved diagnostic capabilities in hospitals to identify rare bacteria.

Background

Eikenella corrodens is a gram-negative, facultative anaerobic bacterium that colonizes human oral and nasopharyngeal regions. It is rarely found causing pleural cavity infections without forming a draining sinus. The uneven distribution of diagnostic capacity in China poses challenges for clinical examination of this rare pathogen.

Objective

To present a case of empyema associated with E. corrodens infection and describe the bacteriological and testing characteristics of E. corrodens isolated from pleural fluid in a primary hospital setting.

Results

Laboratory culture confirmed E. corrodens infection in the pleural fluid. The bacterium exhibited characteristic dry, flat colonies with centrally raised radiating structure after 48-72 hours of culture. Biochemical tests showed negative results for catalase, urease, arginine hydrolase, and indole, but positive for ornithine decarboxylase, nitrate reduction, lysine decarboxylase, and oxidase.

Conclusion

E. corrodens as a rare pathogen in the HACEK group can cause severe pleural cavity infections. Extended culture time and enhanced culture conditions are crucial for improving pathogen isolation and identification. Strengthening diagnostic capabilities in basic laboratories is essential for optimizing patient treatment outcomes.
  • Published in:World Journal of Clinical Cases,
  • Study Type:Case Report,
  • Source: PMID: 38983430, DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i18.3596
Scroll to Top