Sphingomonas paucimobilis - an emerging pathogen

Sphingomonas Paucimobilis is an aerobic, oxidase positive, catalase positive, motile gram negative bacterium, opportunistic pathogen. 1 It is widely found in nature, especially in water and soil and has been isolated frequently from hospital water systems, mechanical ventilators etc. The bacteria are known to cause infections in immunocompromised and hospitalized patients. It rarely affects immunocompetent patients. . In various studies, Sphingomonas Paucimobilis has been shown to be a causative agent in immunocompromised patients and in hospital acquired postoperative endophtalmitis, osteomyelitis and septic arthritis. 2-4 There have been case reports of outbreak of sphingomonas sepsis in NICU. 5 Various infections caused by Sphingomonas paucimobilis include bacteria, septic arthritis, endophthalmitis, peritonitis, catheter related infections, pyoderma and ventilator associated pneumonia. 2-6 Infections in immunocompetent individuals is rare. We report a case of Sphingomonas paucimobilis sepsis in a ten year old male child.