Isolation of Bordetella trematum from a diabetic leg ulcer

Background The species Bordetella trematum (a Gram-negative, opportunistic bacterium) was established in 1996. To date, 10 cases of human infection/colonization with the pathogen have been described. Case report The first case of isolation of B. trematum from a diabetic ulcer is reported. Since there are no commercially available kits for identification of the organism, species diagnosis was based on 16S rDNA sequencing. B. trematum disappeared from the ulcer without antimicrobial therapy. Conclusion In the present case, there was no evidence for a causative role of the organism in the diabetic foot infection, which is in agreement with previously published data. However, B. trematum has to be considered when otherwise unclassified Gram-negative rods are isolated from infected diabetic ulcers.