NONFATAL AND FATAL INFECTIONS CAUSED BY CHROMOBACTERIUM-VIOLACEUM

Human infection caused by Chromobacterium violaceum is rare, but when it occurs it is associated with a high mortality rate. We report the c ases of two patients with infection due to Chromobacterium violaceum. One patient presented early in the course of disease and survived afte r receiving appropriate antibiotic therapy. The other patient presente d late in the course of disease and died of fulminant sepsis with absc esses in multiple organs. We discuss the similarity between C. violace um infection and the septicemic form of melioidosis.