Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Case Reports
. 2017 Dec 20:2017:bcr2017221053.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2017-221053.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: an emerging multidrug-resistant opportunistic pathogen in the immunocompromised host

Affiliations
Case Reports

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: an emerging multidrug-resistant opportunistic pathogen in the immunocompromised host

Emily Baumrin et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a multidrug-resistant opportunistic pathogen with increasing prevalence and high morbidity and mortality. In addition to its classic association with pulmonary infections, S. maltophilia can cause skin and soft tissue infections with varying clinical presentations. We describe the case of a man in his 30s with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who presented with a solitary patch of faint but tender purpura found to have rapidly progressive S. maltophilia infection diagnosed on skin biopsy. S. maltophilia infection should be considered in the cutaneous evaluation of the immunocompromised host.

Keywords: dermatology; nosocomial infections.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Pink-red purpuric patch on the right leg.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Gram-negative organisms in the deep dermis visible on Gram stain (×1000).

References

    1. Safdar A, Rolston KV. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: changing spectrum of a serious bacterial pathogen in patients with cancer. Clin Infect Dis 2007;45:1602–9. 10.1086/522998 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Senol E. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: the significance and role as a nosocomial pathogen. J Hosp Infect 2004;57:1–7. 10.1016/j.jhin.2004.01.033 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Teo WY, Chan MY, Lam CM, et al. . Skin manifestation of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infection: a case report and review article. Ann Acad Med Singapore 2006;35:897–900. - PubMed
    1. Bin Abdulhak AA, Zimmerman V, Al Beirouti BT, et al. . Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infections of intact skin: a systematic review of the literature. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2009;63:330–3. 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2008.11.003 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Gao Y, Minca EC, Procop GW, et al. . Stenotrophomonas maltophila cellulitis in an immunocompromised patient presenting with purpura, diagnosed on skin biopsy. J Cutan Pathol 2016;43:1017–20. 10.1111/cup.12765 - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances