Articles

<b>Background:</b> <i>Gallibacterium</i><i> </i><i>anatis</i> is an opportunistic pathogen, mainly associated with infections in poultry. Infections in humans have only been described four times (in France and China). <b>Case presentation:</b> We report the case of a 62-year-old non-immunocompromised male patient with a gastric bypass in his medical history, presenting with cholecystitis in whom <i>Gallibacterium</i><i> </i><i>anatis</i> was isolated from the blood, besides an <i>Escherichia coli</i>. Identification of the <i>G. </i><i>anatis</i> was achieved using MALDI-TOF MS and confirmatory 16s RNA sequencing. The patient was successfully treated with piperacillin-tazobactam, resulting in clinical improvement. In the context of impaired host defenses due to acute cholecystitis with an <i>E. coli</i> bacteremia, it is conceivable that <i>G. </i><i>anatis</i> entered the bloodstream through bacterial translocation from the gastrointestinal tract. <b>Conclusion:</b><b> </b>This case highlights the importance of advanced identification techniques and awareness of rare pathogens in clinical practice. <i>Gallibacterium</i><i> </i><i>anatis</i>, particularly drug-resistant strains, may represent a potential infectious agent and should therefore be considered in diagnostic work-up.

Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are important hospital-acquired infections that are related to increased mortality in cardiac intensive care units (CICUs). To determine the risk factors for CLABSIs, a case-control study was conducted in the CICU of our hospital. Emergency surgery (odds ratio: 9.6, 95% confidence interval: 1.633-56.926) was the strongest risk factor comparing the case group (n=11) to the control group (n=22). In addition, the indwelling period was significantly longer in the case group than in the control group (median 9 days versus 7 days, p=0.004). An intervention for the insertion of central lines was then started, with 1) thorough use of chlorhexidine-impregnated dressings (also known as chlorhexidine patches, CHG patches) in the insertion of central lines before emergency surgery, and 2) exchange of the central line 7 days after emergency surgery. After the intervention, the CLABSI incidence rate decreased from 6.8 to 0.8/1,000 device-days. These data suggest the usefulness of CHG patches and the importance of the early exchange of central lines in the CICU in patients following emergency surgery.