Third human isolate of a Desulfovibrio sp. identical to the provisionally named Desulfovibrio fairfieldensis

Abstract

A 46-year-old woman was admitted to a hospital for exploration of febrile meningoencephalitis. A Desulfovibrio fairfieldensis strain was isolated from a urine specimen of this patient. All microbiological investigations, including blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures, remained negative. The patient was treated with rifampin, ethambutol, isoniazid, acyclovir, amoxicillin, and, several days later, corticosteroids. On admission, a microscopic examination of urine yielded 106 polymorphonuclear leukocytes per ml and long motile bacteria with spirochetal morphology. Treatment with antimycobacterial drugs was continued, and clinical symptomatology improved slowly. Two weeks later neither pyuria nor bacteriuria was detected. Six months later, the patient's condition had deteriorated. No pyuria or bacteriuria was detected, and a urine sample showed no growth aerobically or anaerobically. The patient's condition fluctuated between periods of improvement and relapse over the following months. After another 6 months the patient died. The family of the patient refused permission for an autopsy to be carried out.