Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophlia) is an aerobicbacteriawhich is an uncommon but difficult to treat cause of humaninfection. It is a nonfermentativeaerobic gram-negativebacilluswhich thrives in aqueous environments such as water, urine, or respiratorysecretions. It was previously known as Pseudomonas maltophilia.

S. maltophila frequently colonizes breathing tubes such as endotrachealor tracheostomytubes. It may also colonize chronically indwelling urinary catheters. Therefore, testingthese pieces of equipment may show the presence of S. maltophilia without there being an actual infection. In the right condition, however, this colonization may evolve into pneumonia, urinary tract infection, or a blood stream infection.

S. maltophilia has natural resistance to many commonly used antibioticsand is thus often difficult to eradicate. Most S. maltophilia is sensitiveto co-trimoxazole.

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It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stenotrophomonas+maltophilia Wikipedia article Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.