Burcu BURSAL, İlyas BİNGÖL, Şule ÇELİK
Comprehensive Medicine - 2026;18(1):7-11
Objective: Achromobacter spp. are uncommon causes of bloodstream infections, typically associated with nosocomial settings and immunocompromised patients. This study aims to evaluate the clinical characteristics, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, and outcomes of seven pediatric patients with community-acquired Achromobacter bacteremia. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on seven pediatric cases admitted with sepsis and positive blood cultures for Achromobacter spp. between 2020 and 2024. Demographic data, clinical presentation, laboratory findings, microbiologic identification, antimicrobial susceptibility results, treatment regimens, and outcomes were analyzed. Results: The median age was 16 months; five patients were female. All patients were previously healthy and presented from the community. Fever was the primary symptom, with cough and poor feeding being common additional findings. Four had isolated sepsis, while three had signs of lower respiratory tract infection. Six isolates were identified as Achromobacter denitrificans and one as A. xylosoxidans. All isolates were susceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam and carbapenems. Initial empirical treatment with third-generation cephalosporins was modified to piperacillin-tazobactam and carbapenem upon susceptibility results. All patients recovered and were discharged in good condition, with no deaths observed. Conclusion: Although rare, Achromobacter spp. can cause community-acquired sepsis in previously healthy children. Prompt identification and appropriate antimicrobial therapy guided by susceptibility testing are crucial for favorable outcomes.
