Maggot-associated Ignatzschineria larvae bacteremia: a case report

March 25, 2025
Clinical Microbiology
Paolo Gigante, Gabriele Arcari, Donatella Ossola, Benedetta Pennella, Luigina Guasti, Federica Novazzi, Mattia Carbotti, Gianluca Cassani, Domenico Caleca, Riccardo Capuano, Renée Pasciuta, Nicasio Mancini
Pathogen:Ignatzschineria larvae
Infection Type:Bacteremia
Pathogen Type:Bacteria

Summary

An 88-year-old bedridden woman with multiple comorbidities presented with fever, altered mental status, and a large sacral pressure ulcer infested with maggots. Blood cultures, initially showing Gram-negative rods, were identified as Ignatzschineria larvae through MALDI-TOF MS and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The patient was treated with meropenem and local wound care, leading to clinical improvement and discharge. This case highlights a rare bacteremia caused by a maggot-associated bacterium, emphasizing the need for advanced diagnostic techniques in polymicrobial infections, especially in vulnerable patients with myiasis.

Key note: Ignatzschineria larvae bacteremia can occur in patients with maggot-infested wounds, requiring specific identification for appropriate treatment.

DOI: 10.1128/asmcr.00113-24