Abstract
Background:
Morganella morganii is a commensal Gram-negative bacillus of the intestinal tract of humans and other mammals and reptiles. Few reports exist in the literature regarding infections caused by this organism.
Methods:
A retrospective study at the 650-bed University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece was performed during a 4-year period (2001–2004) to identify and analyze infections caused by M. morganii.
Results:
Twenty-four patients had M. morganii isolated from clinical specimens during the study period. Thirteen patients (54%) suffered from skin and soft tissue infections, five from pyelonephritis, three from female genital tract infections, one from pneumonia, one from gangrenous appendicitis, and one from tonsillitis. M. morganii was a constituent of polymicrobial infections in 14 patients (58%). The patients received various antibiotics, i.e., six patients received ciprofloxacin, four piperacillin/tazobactam, two amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, one ticarcillin/clavulanic acid, one ceftriaxone, one imipenem, and one cefuroxime monotherapy, whereas the remaining eight received antibiotic combinations. Two (both debilitated) of 24 patients (8%) died, despite antibiotic treatment.
Conclusion:
Skin and soft tissue infection was the commonest type of infection due to M. morganii in our series. M. morganii is commonly a part of polymicrobial infections and can rarely cause fatalities in debilitated patients.
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Authors' Contributions: M.E. Falagas wrote the manuscript and supervised the data analysis. P.K. Kavvadia and E. Mantadakis made a major revision of the manuscript. P. Kofteridis and I.A. Bliziotis determined independently the type and clinical outcome of the infections. D.P. Kofteridis and E. Saloustros collected the clinical data. S. Maraki collected and reviewed all the microbiological data. G. Samonis had the original idea, provided advice and gave final approval of the submitted manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Falagas, M.E., Kavvadia, P.K., Mantadakis, E. et al. Morganella morganii Infections in a General Tertiary Hospital. Infection 34, 315–321 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-006-6682-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-006-6682-3