Bacteremia caused by a rare pathogen – Chromobacterium violaceum: a case report from Nepal

Narayan Prasad Parajuli,1,2 Anjeela Bhetwal,2 Sumitra Ghimire,2 Anjila Maharjan,2 Shreena Shakya,2 Deepa Satyal,2 Roshan Pandit,2 Puspa Raj Khanal2 1Department of Clinical Laboratory Services, Manmohan Memorial Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, 2Department of Laboratory Medicine, Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal Abstract: Chromobacterium violaceum is a gram negative saprophytic bacterium, prevalent in tropical and subtropical climates. Infections caused by C. violaceum are very uncommon, yet it can cause severe systemic infections with higher mortality when entered into the bloodstream through open wound. A case of symptomatic bacteremia in a woman caused by C. violaceum was identified recently at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Nepal. Timely diagnosis by microbiological methods and rapid administration of antimicrobials led to a successful treatment of this life-threatening infection in this case. From this experience, we suggest to include this bacterium in the differential diagnosis of sepsis, especially when abraded skin is exposed to soil or stagnant water in tropical areas. The precise antimicrobial selection and timely administration should be considered when this infection is suspected. Keywords: Chromobacterium violaceum, case report, bacteremia, Nepa