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Case Reports
. 2010 Dec 29:2010:bcr0620103058.
doi: 10.1136/bcr.06.2010.3058.

Spacecraft bacterium, Paenibacillus pasadenensis, causing wound infection in humans

Y Flammer Anikpeh  1 , P Keller, G V Bloemberg, J Grünenfelder, A S Zinkernagel
Affiliations
Case Reports

Spacecraft bacterium, Paenibacillus pasadenensis, causing wound infection in humans

Y Flammer Anikpeh et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

In a patient with mediastinitis after cardiac surgery Paenibacillus pasadenensis was detected in his sternal wound. Paenibacilli are gram-positive, aerobic, bacteria related to bacilli. Until recently these organisms were not known to cause human disease. A few cases of human infection caused by another member of this genus, P alvei, have been reported. The authors describe the first infection with P pasadenensis in humans. P pasadenensis was detected by broad-range bacterial 16S rRNA PCR. Treatment consisted of surgical debridement and antibiotics, vancomycin and ciprofloxacin followed by clindamycin and ciprofloxacin, resulting in complete recovery.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests None.

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