Sphingomonas paucimobilis (S. paucimobilis) is a non-fermentative, aerobic, gram negative bacillus first described in 19907,12,13). It is oxidase and catalase positive. It is a nonspore-forming bacillus characterized by a yellow pigment production and motility with its polar flagellum12,13). It may cause both nosocomial and community-acquired infections, albeit rarely. It has been reported to proliferate in distilled water, hemodialysis fluids, and sterile drug solutions. It can infect particularly persons with chronic diseases or immune suppression1,10). Although meningitis associated with S. paucimobilis has been previously reported, no proliferation has been reported in patients with an external ventricular drain5,12). The patient reported herein is the first patient who had S. paucimobilis proliferation in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture while being followed at the intensive care unit for an extra ventricular drain (EVD).

A previously healthy 48-year-old woman admitted to emergency department with sudden-onset speech disturbance and worsening general status. In neurological examination the patient was unconscious, pupils were normal, light reflex +/+, eyes deviated to left, and there was an abnormal flexor response to painful stimuli. The Glasgow coma scale (GCS) was 5/15. There were no signs of meningeal irritation or stiff neck. There was no fever, either. The laboratory examinations were normal. A computerized brain tomography revealed a 4×4 cm hemorrhagic lesion in the basal ganglia, which opened into the left lateral ventricle leading to hydrocephalus. An external ventricular drain was placed against intraventricular hemorrhage and hydrocephalus. No permanent ventriculoperitoneal shunt was placed since a bloody CSF drainage with a high protein content was observed. The patient could not tolerate closure of the drainage because of hydrocephalus. Thus, wound and catheter care were repeated and a new external ventricular drainage catheter was placed every ten days. During the same period prophylactic ceftriaxone therapy was also administered. Daily CSF smears and cultures were sent, and gram negative bacilli were seen in CSF gram staining at 23rd day. Laboratory results at that period were as follows: white blood cell and neutrophil rate were normal. CRP: 221 mgr/L, and sedimentation rate: 25 mm/h. The patient did not have fever. She also had no signs of meningeal irritation or stiff neck. No evidence of infection was detected on brain CT with contrast. The infectious diseases department was consulted and meropenem 3×1000 mg (I.V) was begun. On 25th day S. paucimobilis proliferated in CSF culture. It was resistant to colistin but sensitive to meropenem and gentamycin in antibiotic sensitivity test. No culture proliferation was observed in CSF, tracheal aspirate, and blood culture sent 1 day after the onset of meropenem therapy. Tests for immune insufficiency were all negative. Immunoglobulin levels were within normal levels. No sign of infection was detected on follow-up brain CTs. The patient died from heart failure on 46th day of admission.

S. paucimobilis was first isolated by Holmes et al. and named as Pseudomonas paucimobilis in 19776). The microorganism was renamed by Yabuuchi et al.13) as S. paucimobilis in 1990. Currently, it has more than 30 subspecies10). It has been shown to exist in soil, drinking water, and plants. At the hospital setting it has been isolated from distilled water tanks, respirators, and hemodialysis devices2,4,9). Although it is known to have a low virulence, it may cause bacteremia and septicemia12). It may cause both nosocomial and community-acquired pneumonia with a mortality potential12).

Despite it often leads to infections in persons having certain conditions such as immune suppression, malignancy, and diabetes, it has also been reported to infect previously healthy persons. Balkwill et al.1) reported that, although there may be certain predisposing conditions, it may not be always possible to determine the source of the infection. Lin et al.8) evaluated 16 cases with S. paucimobilis bacteremia and found a malignancy rate of 57.1% and a diabetes rate of 40.5%. So far, a variety of infections have been reported with this microorganism, such as sepsis, septic pulmonary embolism, septic arthritis, peritonitis, and endophthalmitis3,7,11,12).

The bacteria called Pseudomonas paucimobilis were later renamed as S. paucimobilis in the literature. Therefore, the report of Hajiroussou et al.5) dating back to 1979 can be considered as the first report on meningitis caused by S. paucimobilis (Table 1). In that report, the patient presented with seizure and headache and was diagnosed with meningitis. S. paucimobilis was subsequently isolated from CSF5). In that paper a 39-year-old man with meningitis caused by Pseudomonas paucimobilis was presented. The second case of meningitis in the literature was the one reported by Tai and Velayuthan12) (Table 1). In that report, the patient was a farmer who received the microorganism through an open wound in his leg. The patient developed bacteremia and meningitis later on. Thus, the authors suggested that the organism might have been soil borne12).

It has been reported that S. paucimobilis responded well to fluoroquinolones, a combination of beta lactam and beta lactamase, and carbapenem whereas it was resistant to penicillin and first generation cephalosporins8,12). In our patient meropenem was begun as the initial antimicrobial therapy and continued upon repeated negative CSF, tracheal aspirate, and blood cultures.

Our patient had no predisposing factor to S. paucimobilis infection with the exception of having an EVD hydrocephalus secondary to intraventricular hemorrhage. The immunoglobulin levels of our patient were within normal levels and no apparent immune suppression was present. Since we did not previously encounter this agent at our intensive care unit and we applied sterile techniques while sampling CSF, the possibility of contamination was considered unlikely. In agreement with Balkwill et al.1) who reported that the source of infection often cannot be determined, we could not determine the source of infection in our patient.

In conclusion, S. paucimobilis is an infectious agent that is prevalent in nature but may also be isolated at the hospital setting. It can lead to nosocomial or community-acquired infections. Although it can be eliminated with prophylactic therapy, sensitivity pattern should be definitely studied to determine the optimal treatment.