A case of Robinsoniella peoriensis bacteremia during using piperacillin-tazobactam

J Infect Chemother. 2023 Sep;29(9):913-915. doi: 10.1016/j.jiac.2023.05.015. Epub 2023 May 30.

Abstract

Infections caused by Robinsoniella peoriensis, particularly bacteremia, are rare, of which only six cases were reported R. peoriensis bloodstream infections. This case report describes an instance of R. peoriensis bacteremia arising while we treated the patient with piperacillin-tazobactam. We treated an 84-year-old female patient with peritoneal carcinoma and febrile neutropenia using piperacillin-tazobactam. The patient's fever subsided. However, she developed a fever again on the fourth day of treatment with piperacillin-tazobactam. Blood cultures taken at this time were positive for R. peoriensis. We substituted meropenem and vancomycin for piperacillin-tazobactam, after which the patient improved. We administered meropenem and vancomycin for 17 days. There is currently no appropriate established treatment for R. peoriensis. In this case, we isolated R. peoriensis from blood cultures using piperacillin-tazobactam, although it was susceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam in vitro. Therefore, monotherapy with penicillins, especially piperacillin-tazobactam, may not be sufficient for R. peoriensis infections, although it was susceptible in vitro. Carbapenem may be effective in the treatment of R. peoriensis bloodstream infections.

Keywords: Bacteremia; Carbapenem; Piperacillin-tazobactam; Robinsoniella peoriensis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Bacteremia* / complications
  • Bacteremia* / diagnosis
  • Bacteremia* / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Fever / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Meropenem / therapeutic use
  • Penicillanic Acid / therapeutic use
  • Piperacillin / therapeutic use
  • Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination / therapeutic use
  • Vancomycin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Piperacillin
  • Meropenem
  • Vancomycin
  • Penicillanic Acid
  • Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination

Supplementary concepts

  • Robinsoniella peoriensis