Stenotrophomonas

Stenotrophomonas
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an environmental bacterium that may be found in hospitals
and that can cause infections including respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections,
surgical site infections and bacteremia. It is intrinsically resistant to many antibiotics.
Infections occur mainly in patients who are immunocompromised, have had a prolonged
hospital stay, have had broad-spectrum antibiotics (particularly meropenem) or have been
ventilated.
SPREAD B Y Direct contact: transfer on hands from an environmental source.
Indirect contact: transfer from equipment/environment.
I N F E C T I O U S P E R I OD Stenotrophomonas is not readily transferred between patients
provided standard principles of infection control are followed, but theoretically a patient
may remain colonised and potentially infectious for months or years.
I N F E C T I O N C O N T R O L P R E C A U T I O N S In a community setting or in a general ward,
standard principles of infection control are adequate. In high-dependency areas such as
ITU, isolation may be required.
1 Isolation Not usually required (seek
advice if patient on ITU/HDU)
2 Hand washing Required
3 Gloves Not required
4 Apron Not required
5 Mask Not required
6 Eye protection Not required
S TA F F No additional precautions required.
VI S I T O R S No restrictions.
PAT I E N T T R A N S F E R No restrictions.
MORE INFORMAT I O N Stenotrophomonas does not commonly cause clinical infections.
It can usually be treated with co-trimoxazole if antibiotics are required.
Frequent detection of Stenotrophomonas in patient samples from a ward may indicate
overuse of carbapenem antibiotics (such as meropenem) and may require increased antibiotic
stewardship.