Roseomonas mucosa
Roseomonas spp. are aerobic, non-fermenting, Gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria belonging to the Acetobacteraceae family [1]. The genus comprises several species, including R. mucosa, R. gilardii, R. cervicalis, and R. fauriae. Roseomonas mucosa was first identified as a separate species in 2003 [2].
Roseomonas mucosa has the greatest clinical significance of the species within this genus [3]. The literature has reported on approximately 40 cases of infections in which R. mucosa was identified as the trigger [4]. Infections predominantly affect immunosuppressed patients, patients with underlying diseases, and/or patients with pre-existing infections [2]. The literature has thus far reported on the following clinical pictures [4][5]:
Catheter-associated bloodstream infections
Bacteremia
Pneumonia
Urinary tract infections
As R. mucosa is part of the human skin microbiome, skin and mucosa are the main reservoir for the species. R. mucosa has rarely also been found in soil and seawater [4].
Relevance of pathogen in transmission in endoscopy
Gastroenterology: Low
Pulmonology: Low
Ear, nose, and throat: Low
Urology: Low
Relevance for endoscope surveillance
High concern organism
Transmission route
The organism is transmitted by direct or indirect contact, including endogenous infections from the skin microbiome of the immunosuppressed patient. R. mucosa has been isolated from blood samples and wounds from patients and from environmental samples from hospital settings [4]. Thus, nosocomial infections triggered by colonized surfaces in hospital settings have been documented [6].
Resistance to antibiotics
Depending on the species, Roseomonas spp. exhibit various resistance patterns, whereby R. mucosa exhibits the lowest susceptibility [4]. In one study, R. mucosa was found to be highly mucigenic and was resistant to most beta-lactam antibiotics. There was susceptibility to aminoglycosides, carbapenem, fluoroquinolones, polymixins, sulfonamides, and tetracyclines [5]. As a nosocomial pathogen, R. mucosa poses a risk to patient safety [4]. Its ability to form biofilms also means that there is a risk that R. mucosa may provide protection against antiobiotic treatment to other pathogenic bacteria found in the biofilm [5].
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