Brevundimonas spp

• B. diminuta
• B. vancanneytii
• B. vesicularis

Gram Stain

• Gram negative bacilli straight/slightly curved - nonfermenter (aerobic)

Clinical Significance

These organisms are found in a variety of environmental sources, including hospital environments where they have been implicated in pseudoinfections.

They can cause meningitis, peritonitis (including CAPD peritonitis), pneumonia/pleuritis, bacteremia, septicemia, septic arthritis, liver abscesses, pyelonephritis, endocarditis, keratitis, and wound infections in immunocompromised individuals.

They have been recovered from the sputum of cystic fibrosis patients.

Usual Susceptibility Pattern

These organisms are resistant to penicillins and cephalosporins.

Some isolates have been found with VIM enzymes resulting in broad penicillin / cephalosporin / carbapenem resistance (possibly sparing aztreonam).

Resistance to quinolones is common.

Aminoglycoside and tetracycline resistance has also been reported.