The First Known Documented Case of Ewingella Americana Urinary Tract Infection

We present a 73-year-old male with a history of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on dialysis, type 2 diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease status post stents, prostate carcinoma status post radiation, and prostatectomy, with recurrent bladder neck contracture requiring suprapubic catheter, left urethral stricture with nephrostomy tube placement, penile implant, and recurrent urinary tract infections, who presented to the emergency room complaining of constant bilateral groin pain for one day. Physical exam was significant for suprapubic tenderness and a chronic suprapubic catheter and left-sided nephrostomy tube. An initial examination of the patient’s urine revealed turbid, yellow-colored fluid, positive for white blood cells, leukocyte esterase, and bacteria. A urine culture was obtained, which returned positive for E. americana, with >100,000colony-forming units (CFUs)as well as Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) demonstrating low colony counts. The patient was treated with a seven-day course of meropenem 1 gm twice daily, which improved of his symptoms, and then completed a 10-day course of ertapenem 500 mg daily. The patient received a five-day course of vancomycin 1 gm on dialysis days for additional coverage of E. faecalis, despite low colony counts. This is the first documented case of a urinary tract infection caused by E. americana. The organism is primarily found in immunocompromised individuals, and a debate is still ongoing as to whether it is a true pathogen or exists primarily as an opportunistic infection. We suggest further inquiry and study of this resistant organism are paramount in establishing its role in both immunocompromised as well as immunocompetent individuals. E. americana is a multidrug-resistant organism, which to date has sparse documentation regarding its prevalence and potential for morbidity, especially in compromised individuals. In the era of increasing antibiotic resistance, we suggest that more research is needed to understand the pathogenicity of E. americana.