Elizabethkingia anophelis Infection in Intensive Care Unit Patients at a Tertiary Care Center in North India: A Retrospective Study

ABSTRACT. Elizabethkingia anopheles has recently been recognized as an emerging pathogen linked to neonatal meningitis and bacteremia. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the demographic patterns, clinical presentation, and sensitivity patterns of Elizabethkingia anophelis ( E. anophelis ) isolates at our institution. This retrospective observational study was conducted from 2021 to 2024 at a tertiary care center in Uttar Pradesh. All patients admitted to the intensive care unit who were diagnosed with microbiologically confirmed E. anophelis infection were included in the study. Samples such as blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, ascitic fluid, endotracheal aspirate, wound pus, and cerebrospinal fluid were sent to the Microbiology laboratory for culture and sensitivity testing. Clinical histories of the patients and details regarding bacterial culture and antibiotic sensitivity results were extracted from the Hospital Information System. A total of 48 inpatients with E. anophelis infection were included. Most of the patients presented with a diagnosis of bacteremia ( n = 20; 42%), followed by pneumonia ( n = 18; 37.5%). Among the patients with bacteremia ( n = 20), 12 (60%) had a catheter in situ at the time of infection and were diagnosed with catheter-related bloodstream infection. The most common risk factor was diabetes mellitus (52%), followed by endotracheal intubation (43.7%) and hypertension (41.7%). The overall 30-day mortality among patients with E. anophelis infection was 21%. The increased prevalence and mortality rates among patients with E. anophelis infection emphasize that timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment can help clinicians reduce mortality in these patients.