Characteristics of Achromobacter xylosoxidans bacteremia in northern Taiwan

Shian-Sen Shie, Ching-Tai Huang, Hsieh-Shong Leu
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

Received: July 1, 2004 Revised: August 25, 2004 Accepted: September 6, 2004

Corresponding author: Dr. Hsieh-Shong Leu, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 199 Tun Hwa N Rd., Taipei, Taiwan. E-mail:

There were 40 cases of Achromobacter xylosoxidans bacteremia during a 6-year period in a medical center in northern Taiwan. Males outnumbered females (72.5% vs 27.5%). Common underlying diseases and conditions in these 40 bacteremic patients were malignancies (57.5%), central venous catheter implants (55%), surgery (35%), neutropenia (30%) and use of steroids (25%). Recurrent bacteremia occurred in 4 patients (10%), all of whom had a central venous catheter implant which was considered the most probable source of infection. More than one-quarter (27.5%) of the cases were community acquired. The mortality rate due to A. xylosoxidans bacteremia was 47.5%. Risk factors significantly associated with mortality were nosocomial acquisition and polymicrobial bacteremia. Disk susceptibility testing showed that these isolates were resistant to aminoglycosides and most cephalosporins but were susceptible to piperacillin, imipenem, ceftazidime and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.

Key words: Achromobacter xylosoxidans, bacteremia, malignancy, microbial sensitivity tests, mortality

J Microbiol Immunol Infect 2005;38:277-282.