Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens bacteraemia

We describe a case of A. succiniciproducens bacteraemia in a thirty-fouryear-old man with decompensated chronic liver disease associated with a fatal outcome. A. succiniciproducens infections are rare. The organism has distinctive spiral morphology on Gram staining and unlike most other spiral bacteria, it is able to grow in blood cultures and on blood agar. It is a strict anaerobe but demonstrates metronidazole resistance. An appreciation of this resistance is necessary for an appropriate initial choice of antibiotic therapy. Often there is a poor response even to appropriate antibiotic therapy and there is a high associated mortality. A. succiniciproducens infections are considered to be zoonotic.