# Sphingobacterium hotanense Infections in Immunocompromised Patients, United States **Authors:** Khalid Abu-Zeinah, Benjamin D. Lueck, Shane A. Fuentes, Emily Puumala, Omar M. Abu Saleh PMC · DOI: 10.3201/eid3201.251290 · Emerging Infectious Diseases · 2026-01-01 ## TL;DR This paper reports two cases of Sphingobacterium hotanense infections in immunocompromised patients in the US, emphasizing its potential as a rare human pathogen. ## Contribution The study highlights S. hotanense as a possible pathogen in immunocompromised individuals with environmental exposure. ## Key findings - Two cases of S. hotanense bacteremia were identified in immunocompromised patients. - Infections were linked to skin and soft tissue in patients with environmental exposure. - S. hotanense is a rare but emerging pathogen in immunocompromised hosts. ## Abstract Sphingobacterium hotanense is a gram-negative bacillus identified in 2013 from soil samples that rarely causes infection in humans. We describe 2 cases of S. hotanense bacteremia secondary to skin and soft tissue infection in immunocompromised patients in Minnesota, USA, highlighting S. hotanense as a potential pathogen in immunocompromised hosts with environmental exposure. ## Linked entities - **Diseases:** bacteremia (MONDO:0005229) - **Species:** Sphingobacterium hotanense (taxon 649196), Homo sapiens (taxon 9606) ## Full-text entities - **Genes:** CD4 (CD4 molecule) [NCBI Gene 920] {aka CD4mut, IMD79, Leu-3, OKT4D, T4} - **Diseases:** HIV (MESH:D015658), cirrhotic (MESH:D000094724), ulcerative colitis (MESH:D003093), pulmonary aspergillosis (MESH:D055732), cirrhosis (MESH:D005355), sepsis (MESH:D018805), SSTI (MESH:D018461), bacterial peritonitis (MESH:D010538), hypotensive (MESH:D007022), systemic synovitis (MESH:D013585), febrile (MESH:D000071072), pulmonary embolism (MESH:D011655), primary sclerosing cholangitis (MESH:D015209), candidemia (MESH:D058387), lethargic (MESH:D004674), stasis dermatitis (MESH:D003872), Infections (MESH:D007239), Erythema (MESH:D004890), ascites (MESH:D001201), skin discoloration (MESH:D014075), abdominal tenderness (MESH:D000007), bleeding portal gastropathy (MESH:D006975), necrosis (MESH:D009336), lower extremity pain (MESH:D010146), iron deficiency anemia (MESH:D018798), drug allergies (MESH:D004342), purulence (MESH:D003234), abscess (MESH:D000038), meningitis (MESH:D008580), respiratory tract infections (MESH:D012141), SBP (MESH:D010534), acute pancreatitis (MESH:D010195), cholangitis (MESH:D002761), septic arthritis (MESH:D001170), cellulitis (MESH:D002481), open wounds (MESH:D014947), myelodysplastic syndrome (MESH:D009190), Bacteremia (MESH:D016470), immune dysfunction (MESH:D007154), edema (MESH:D004487) - **Chemicals:** trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (MESH:D015662), aminoglycosides (MESH:D000617), clindamycin (MESH:D002981), vancomycin (MESH:D014640), abacavir (MESH:C106538), mesalamine (MESH:D019804), lactate (MESH:D019344), tetracycline (MESH:D013752), piperacillin/tazobactam (MESH:D000077725), ceftazidime (MESH:D002442), lamivudine (MESH:D019259), beta-lactams (MESH:D047090), fluoroquinolones (MESH:D024841), ceftriaxone (MESH:D002443), ampicillin (MESH:D000667), cefepime (MESH:D000077723), metronidazole (MESH:D008795), ciprofloxacin (MESH:D002939), carbapenems (MESH:D015780), prednisone (MESH:D011241), CO2 (MESH:D002245), agar (MESH:D000362), levofloxacin (MESH:D064704), dolutegravir (MESH:C562325) - **Species:** Sphingobacterium hotanense (species) [taxon 649196], Enterococcus faecalis (species) [taxon 1351], Sphingobacterium (genus) [taxon 28453], Enterobacter cloacae (species) [taxon 550], Enterobacterales (order) [taxon 91347], Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (no rank) [taxon 11676], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606] ## Full text _Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12870043/full.md ## Figures 3 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12870043/full.md ## References 12 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12870043/full.md --- Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12870043