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Mounier-Kuhn syndrome is a rare entity characterized by abnormal dilatation of the trachea and main bronchi (tracheobronchomegaly). Alcaligenes xylosoxidans is a non fermenting gram-negative pathogen common in extra-and intra-hospital environment, which may be related to immunosuppression states. We describe the case of a 75 years old male, ex-smoker with moderate functional obstruction, chronic respiratory failure and chronic colonization by Pseudomonas aeuriginosa. He had an infectious exacerbation of his disease, reason that previously required several hospital admissions. The patient was treated with antibiotics and his evolution was favourable with negativization in cultures of the pathogen. This is the first description of the isolation of Alcaligenes xylosoxidans as a cause of respiratory infection in a patient with Mounier-Kuhn syndrome.

Achromobacter xylosoxidans is a rare cause of bacteremia, and little information on treatment is available. The majority of patients who have developed Achromobacter bacteremia have presented predisposing causes to the infection. A case of community-acquired pneumonia and bacteremia due to A. xylosoxidans in a previously healthy patient is reported. Achromobacter is usually resistant to ampicillin, cephalosporins (1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation), aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones. Piperacillin, piperacillin-tazobactam, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole inhibit most isolates.

Background: The blood stream infections (BSI) are the principal nosocomial infection in the child hospitals. In this study we estimate the incidence of BSI associated with central venous catheterization, and estimate different risk and protective factors, through a multivariate study., Material and Methods: The study have followed in a prospective way during 6 months all the children with central venous catheterization (489 catheters), from the moment of insertion until withdrawal, collecting various data previous to the development of the infection: place of insert, type of catheter, duration, clinic information, microbiology, and the treatments administered through the catheter. In was accomplished an multivariate analysis with logistic regression, for two principal effect variables, the catheter colonization and the catheter related BSI., Results: The incidence of catheter related BSI was 5.5% and for local infection 11.2%. The density of incidence was 3.15 and 6.42 for each 1,000 catheters-day, respectively. The logistic regression model included: colonization of the skin in the insertion point > 15 colonies, days with antibiotics through catheter, use of lipidic parenteral solutions and fever, previous to the infection. The area under the ROC curve was 0.72., Conclusions: In children with septicemias associated with central catheterization the predictors or sentry criterion for the decision on when to withdraw a catheter are colonization (> 15 colonies) of the insert point, together with the use of lipidic parenteral solutions or extended antibiotic treatment.

Background: Alcaligenes (Achromobacter) xylosoxidans occasionally cause infections, mainly in immunocompromised hosts., Methods: Three cases of bacteremia due to A. xylosoxidans observed at the Fundación Jiménez Díaz between 1985-1994 were described. Moreover, 38 single cases of bacteremia due to A. xylosoxidans and 21 episodes associated with outbreak were reviewed by using computerized bibliography data base MEDLINE (1970-december 1994)., Results: From 41 patients with bacteremia (including our 3 cases) reviewed, 27 were immunosuppressed hosts (twenty had neoplasia disease). The most common clinical presentation was primary bacteremia (11 cases, 27%) and pneumonia (10, 24%), followed by catheter-associated bacteremia (8, 20%), meningitis (4), bacteremia from abdominal cavity (4), endocarditis (3) and pyelonephritis (1). The mortality rate was higher (39%), specially in patients whom were a intensive care unit acquisition (87%), and illness with endocarditis (100%). No patient with catheter-related bacteremia died. All of 21 outbreak episodes of bacteremia had a autolimited form and low mortality (4.8%)., Conclusion: A. xylosoxidans is a microorganism with demonstrated capacity of cause bacteremia, mainly in immunocompromised hosts, with high mortality rates. Sometimes, it causes outbreaks of bacteremia with low mortality.

Derivatives of anionic surfactants, specially naphthalene sulphonates, when discharged into natural waters are accumulated in waters and sediments because of their poor biodegradability. A four-membered bacterial community, able to degrade the sodium salt of 2-naphthalene-sulphonic acid (2NS), was isolated from Río Reconquista. All the isolated strains consisted of gram-negative, strictly aerobic rods, with a strong proteolytic activity and resistance to high levels of cations like Cr (III), Hg (II), Cd (II) and Pb (II). Some of them were resistant to gentamicin, amikacin and chloramphenicol. These strains appeared to be related to the genera Pseudomonas and Alcaligenes. When isolated, if growing on 2NS, a brown-dark pigment is formed by three of them, resulting in an inhibition of growth. The presence of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain avoided the production of pigment and resulting in a complete consume of 2NS.