CLINICAL FINDINGS ASSOCIATED WITH STENOTR OPHOMONAS-MALTOPHILIA INFECTION - A MULTICENTRIC STUDY

The pathogenic role of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (Sm) was studied i n community hospitals. In a multicentric study, we analyzed 87 clinica l reports of patients infected with Sm. Median age for patients was 67 . 90 % of the cases presented a compromised medical status. Ongoing or recent antibiotherapy was applied to all cases. No epidemic Sm strain s could be identified (by molecular biology). The antibiogram based an tibiotic therapy was frequently found to be non effective when retrosp ective analysis of the MICA was undertaken. Interpreting the pathogeni c role (colonizing or infecting) of Sm is very difficult because Sm is frequently associated to other bacteria. Prognosis is related to the risk factors and underlying diseases. Respiratory tract infection is t he major cause of death in our patients, but is rarely due to single S m infection.