A 69-year-old immunocompromised patient presented with fever, chills, and malaise, leading to the diagnosis of bacteremia. Initial blood cultures grew an oxidase-positive, Gram-negative rod, later identified as Bergeyella zoohelcum through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The patient had a history of cat exposure, which is a known reservoir for this opportunistic pathogen. Despite initial treatment with piperacillin-tazobactam, the patient's condition worsened, requiring a change to meropenem based on susceptibility testing. The patient eventually recovered. This case highlights the importance of considering zoonotic pathogens in immunocompromised individuals with animal contact, especially when conventional identification methods are insufficient.
Key note: Bergeyella zoohelcum bacteremia should be considered in immunocompromised patients with animal exposure, necessitating advanced diagnostic techniques for identification.