Chryseobacterium spp. vulvovaginal and urinary tract infections

Chryseobacterium species are a known human pathogen with low virulence, but very resistant to antibiotics, making it a nuisance in hospitals. Anyone with severe underlying disease, catheters or other devices is at risk of infection by Chryseobacterium species, but generally, this bacteria stays clear of the vagina and urinary tract in women.

Chryseobacterium indologenes was the cause of one case study whereby a 19-year-old woman was admitted to hospital with a urinary tract infection.

Another species, Chryseobacterium gleum, was found in a high vaginal swab in England.

Chryseobacterium form yellow-orange pigments, and can be found in many areas from water to soil to fish to humans¹.

References

1.
Matu A, Lum Nde A, Oosthuizen L, et al. Draft Genome Sequences of Seven Chryseobacterium Type Strains. Baltrus DA, ed. Microbiol Resour Announc. Published online January 3, 2019. doi:10.1128/mra.01518-18

Jessica Lloyd

Jessica is a degree-qualified naturopath (BHSc) specialising in vulvovaginal health and disease, based in Melbourne, Australia.

Jessica is the owner and lead naturopath of My Vagina, and is a member of the:

International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD)
International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (ISSWSH)
National Vulvodynia Association (NVA) Australia
Australian and New Zealand Vulvovaginal Society (ANZVS)
Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS)

Learn more about the author