Stenotrophomonas Maltophilia Workup

Author: Burke A Cunha, MD; Chief Editor: Michael Stuart Bronze, MD more...

Updated: Jul 22, 2011

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Laboratory Studies
Histologic Findings
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Laboratory Studies

Culture of the organism from body fluids and proper identification from the microbiology laboratory confirms the presence of S maltophilia. Usually, the presence of S maltophilia represents colonization. A potential pathogenic role must be evaluated by an infectious disease specialist. The mere recovery of a potential pathogen from any body fluid does not indicate a pathogenic role for the organism.

Histologic Findings

The histology of S maltophilia in the rare situations when it causes infection is indistinguishable from the histology of infections caused by other aerobic gram-negative bacilli.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Burke A Cunha, MD Professor of Medicine, State University of New York School of Medicine at Stony Brook; Chief, Infectious Disease Division, Winthrop-University Hospital

Burke A Cunha, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Charles S Levy, MD Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Disease, George Washington University School of Medicine

Charles S Levy, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Medical Society of the District of Columbia

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Ronald A Greenfield, MD Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine

Ronald A Greenfield, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Federation for Medical Research, American Society for Microbiology, Central Society for Clinical Research, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Medical Mycology Society of the Americas, Phi Beta Kappa, Southern Society for Clinical Investigation, and Southwestern Association of Clinical Microbiology

Disclosure: Pfizer Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Gilead Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Ortho McNeil Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Abbott Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Astellas Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Cubist Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Forest Pharmaceuticals Speaking and teaching

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD Clinical and Research Fellow, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Physicians, American Society for Microbiology, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Michael Stuart Bronze, MD Professor, Stewart G Wolf Chair in Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center

Michael Stuart Bronze, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physician Executives, American College of Physicians, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Federation for Clinical Research, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, Association of Professors of Medicine, Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Oklahoma State Medical Association, and Southern Society for Clinical Investigation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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Table 1. Hospital-Acquired S maltophilia Infections

Table 1. Hospital-Acquired S maltophilia Infections

Infection	Predisposing Factor
Catheter-associated bacteriuria	Indwelling urinary catheters
Intravenous line infections	Central intravenous catheters
Urosepsis	Urinary tract instrumentation
Primary bacteremia	Arterial monitoring devices
Pseudobacteremia	Contamination of blood during collection/processing of blood cultures

View Table List

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