ACHROMOBACTER

INTRODUCTION
 Achromobacter are Gram-negative straight rods and
are motile by using one to 20 peritrichous flagella.
 They are strictly aerobic and are found in water
(fresh and marine) and soils.
 They have been identified as opportunistic human
pathogens people with certain immunosuppressive
conditions such as cystic.
TAXONOMIC TREE

 Domoin - Bacteria
 Phylum – Pseudomonadota
 Class – Betaproteobacteria
 Order – Burkxolderiales
 Family - Alcaligenaceae
SPECIES

 A.Arsenitoxydans
 A.Clevelandea.
 A.Lyticus
 A.Cholinophagum
 A.Insolitus.
MORPOLOGY

 gram-negative
 Motile
 indole-negative
 obligate aerobes that are oxidase- and catalase-positive.
 nonfermenters because of their extremely limited action on carbohydrates.
ECOLOGY

 They grow well on both blood and MacConkey agar and produce colonies that are
smooth and glistening and have a distinct edge.
 Achromobacter species are nonfermenting and found in soil and water
 Including swimming pools
 Well water
 Dialysis solutions and chlorhexidine solutions.
CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS

 They can occasionally be recovered from the respiratory and

gastrointestinal tracts, primarily in persons with health care contact.
 Most ferment xylose, and some ferment glucose
 All reduce nitrate to nitrite.
 They alkalinize organic salts and amides, a property that led to the name 
Alcaligenes, Which means alkali producing.
Virulence Factor

 Similar to other gram-negative pathogens, Achromobacter-derived LPS induces

key inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, IL-8.
 Likewise, Achromobacter species possess cell membrane–bound virulence
factors common to most other gram-negative cystic fibrosis pathogens.
ODOR

 Some strains (A. Faecalis) produce a distinctive sweet odor resembling

that of green apples. 
CLINICAL PRESENTATION

They are opportunistic human pathogens causing

 Sporadic cases of pneumonia
 Septicemia
 Peritonitis
 Urinary tract
Diagnosis

 using polymerase chain reaction and gene sequencing

Diagnosis and Treatment

Using polymerase chain reaction and gene sequencing

The most active agents against Achromobacter isolates are

 Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
 Ceftazidime
 Piperacillin
 carbapenems
  are the most active agents against Achromobacter isolates.