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. 2018 Oct;99(4):844-848.
doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.18-0311.

Chromobacterium violaceum in Northern Australia: A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing?

Alice Young  1 , Simon Smith  2   3 , Peter Horne  4 , Bronwyn Thomsett  5 , Josh Hanson  3   6
Affiliations

Chromobacterium violaceum in Northern Australia: A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing?

Alice Young et al. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2018 Oct.

Abstract

In many parts of the world, the case-fatality rate of Chromobacterium violaceum infection approaches 60%. To evaluate the spectrum of disease associated with C. violaceum in Far North Queensland (FNQ), Australia, we reviewed all culture-confirmed isolates from 1997 to 2017. There were 28 isolates, 15 represented infection, 11 were contaminants, and two charts were destroyed preventing detailed evaluation of these cases. The most common sites of infection were the skin and soft tissue and the urinary tract; there were two cases of bacteremia without focus. There were no deaths attributable to C. violaceum during the study period and only two cases required intensive care unit support, although in both patients this was not for the C. violaceum infection, but for the management of other health issues. Globally, C. violaceum has a reputation as a deadly pathogen, but in FNQ, Australia, infections usually follow a relatively benign course.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The distribution of Chromobacterium violaceum isolates in Far North Queensland, Australia. This figure appears in color at www.ajtmh.org.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
(A) Split MacConkey and horse blood agar plate growing colonies of Chromobacterium violaceum. (B) Axial view of computerized tomography image of multiple liver abscesses caused by C. violaceum. This figure appears in color at www.ajtmh.org.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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