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REVIEW PAPER
Chryseobacterium indologenes as an aetiological agent for ventilator-associated pneumonia: a case report and review of the literature
 
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1
Students’ Scientific Society, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
 
2
Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
 
 
Submission date: 2025-05-05
 
 
Final revision date: 2025-07-02
 
 
Acceptance date: 2025-07-13
 
 
Publication date: 2026-06-29
 
 
Corresponding author
Piotr F. Czempik   

Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care University Clinical Center of Medical University of Silesia Medyków 14, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
 
 
Medical Studies 2026;42(2):163-167
 
KEYWORDS
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ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to present a case of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by Chryseobacterium indologenes and to review the literature on this rare pathogen. A 50-year-old female patient hospitalised in the intensive care unit developed VAP. C. indologenes was identified as the sole pathogen in a culture of bronchoalveolar lavage. Targeted treatment, taking into account its natural resistance to many beta-lactam antibiotics, resulted in clinical improvement of the patient. A literature review was conducted on the aetiology and risk factors of VAP, as well as infections caused by C. indologenes, using the PubMed and Google Scholar databases. The analysis indicates that infections caused by C. indologenes are associated with high mortality, particularly among critically ill patients. This case highlights the necessity of considering C. indologenes as a potential pathogen in VAP patients. Early diagnosis and the implementation of targeted antibiotic therapy may improve prognosis.
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