Kerstersia gyiorum Isolated from a Bronchoalveolar Lavage in a Patient with a Chronic Tracheostomy

Abstract EN

The use of the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) generates rapid microbial identification.

We are presenting a case of a 63-year-old woman with a medical history of chronic tracheostomy admitted for hypotension and fevers to illustrate the clinical implication of MALDI-TOF MS on bacterial identification.

Kerstersia gyiorum was identified from the bronchoalveolar lavage isolate.

Kerstersia gyiorum has been isolated from human sputum samples, and may be a previously unrecognized colonizer of the upper respiratory tract.

Thus, patients with long-term tracheotomies or who are chronically aspirating may be at risk of lower respiratory infection with this organism.

Increased use of MALDI-TOF MS in the clinical setting may increase reporting of this atypical isolate.