From the Research
Presence of Pantoea agglomerans in Humans
- Pantoea agglomerans is not an obligate infectious agent in humans, but it can cause opportunistic infections, mostly through wound infection with plant material or as a hospital-acquired infection, particularly in immunocompromised individuals 1.
- The bacterium can infect humans through various means, including piercing or laceration of the skin with a plant thorn, wooden splinter, or other plant material, and subsequent inoculation of the plant-residing bacteria 1, 2.
Clinical Characteristics of Pantoea agglomerans Infections
- Pantoea agglomerans infections can manifest as wound infections, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and septicemia, among others 3, 4.
- The clinical course of hospital-acquired P. agglomerans infections can be mild, and application of proper antibiotic treatment can lead to full recovery 1, 3.
- However, P. agglomerans infections can be life-threatening, especially in young patients with pneumonia or those with carbapenem-resistant strains 4.
Treatment and Management
- Treatment of P. agglomerans infections typically involves the use of antibiotics, such as ceftriaxone or cotrimoxazole, and may require the removal of retained foreign bodies, such as plant fragments 3, 2.
- The identification of P. agglomerans in clinical specimens should prompt consideration of a possible previous plant injury or retained vegetal fragments 2.
Relevance to Nipple Discharge Culture Swab
- There is no direct evidence in the provided studies to suggest that Pantoea agglomerans is a normal finding on a nipple discharge culture swab.
- However, given the bacterium's ability to cause opportunistic infections, its presence in a nipple discharge culture swab may require further investigation and treatment, particularly if the patient has underlying comorbidities or is immunocompromised 1, 4.