VASCULAR CATHETER-RELATED COMAMONAS ACIDOVORANS BACTEREMIA MANAGED WITH PRESERVATION OF THE CATHETER

Comamonads are common water and soil saprophytes that have been rarely reported to cause disease. These organisms are ubiquitous, Gram-negative bacilli, which are closely related to Pseudomonas species. Although commonly found in the environment, they are uncommonly isolated from clinical specimens. The genus Comamonas includes Comamonas acidovorans, Comamonas testosteroni and Comamonas terrigena. When these organisms have been isolated from clinical specimens, they have usually been considered nonpathogenic. Nonetheless comamonads have been reported to cause human illness. Like other water-borne bacteria they can rarely cause vascular device infections. We describe a case of C. acidovorans bacteremia, probably from an indwelling vascular catheter infection, managed successfully with preservation of the catheter. Previously reported cases of Comamonas infection are reviewed.