Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a motile, Gram-negative, aerobic rod-shaped bacterium of the proteobacteria phylum. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is one of the non-fermenting bacteria (non-fermenters).

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is now one of the most important hospital pathogens. Infections with the pathogen can cause the following diseases, among others:

  • Pneumonia

  • Urinary tract infections

  • Wound infections

  • Meningitis (inflammation of the meninges)

  • Endocarditis (inflammation of the inner lining of the heart)

  • Sepsis

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a widespread bacterium, which occurs in aqueous environments, soil, and plants. The bacterium is a biofilm former.

Relevance of pathogen in transmission in endoscopy

  • Gastroenterology: Not relevant

  • Pulmonology: High

  • Ear, nose, and throat: Not relevant

  • Urology: High

Relevance for endoscope surveillance

  • High concern organism

Transmission route

Transmission occurs via contaminated water or food.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia can also be spread and transmitted due to inadequate water quality in healthcare facilities. The water used for final rinsing of endoscopes must therefore be microbiologically controlled, to prevent a recontamination of the previously reprocessed endoscope.

Resistance to antibiotics

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is one of the multi-resistant bacteria and shows resistance against beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, and carbapenems, among others.

Sources and further readings

  1. Brooke JS Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: an emerging global opportunistic pathogen, Clin Microbiol Rev. 2012 Jan;25(1):2-41.

  2. Fihman V et al. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia-the most worrisome threat among unusual non-fermentative gram-negative bacilli from hospitalized patients: a prospective multicenter study, J Infect. 2012 Apr;64(4):391-8.

  3. Gries O, Ly T: Infektologie – Kompendium humanpathogener Infektionskrankheiten und Erreger, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2019.

  4. Hygienemaßnahmen bei Infektionen oder Besiedlung mit multiresistenten gramnegativen Stäbchen, Empfehlung der Kommission für Krankenhaushygiene und Infektionsprävention (KRINKO) beim Robert Koch-Institut (RKI), Bundesgesundheitsbl 2012 · 55:1311–1354.

  5. Kovaleva J et al. Mimicking disinfection and drying of biofilms in contaminated endoscopes. J Hosp Infect. 2010 Dec;76(4):345-50.