Outbreak of Arcobacter butzleri? An emerging enteropathogen

BACKGROUND:Arcobacter butzleri is a gram-negative rod, with microaerobic growth at an optimal temperature of 37°C. It was reported to be the fourth most common Campylobacter-like organism isolated from patients with diarrhoea. OBJECTIVE:Characterise a potential outbreak of A. butzleri detected in a short period of time in the University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla. METHODS:Eight strains of A. butzleri were detected in our hospital in only two months. Isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF MS system and 16S rDNA sequencing. Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-PCR (ERIC-PCR) and Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) were carried out to assess clonal relationship. Gradient strips (Etest) were used to determine susceptibility by agar diffusion. RESULTS:ERIC-PCR and PFGE confirmed the lack of clonal relationship between strains. Erythromycin or ciprofloxacin might be appropriate for antibiotic treatment of infections. CONCLUSIONS:A. butzleri is an emerging pathogen with increasing incidence, and may be underestimated.