Bordetella spp

• B. avium
• B. bronchoseptica
• B. hinzii
• B. holmesii
• B. petrii
• B. trematum

Gram Stain

• Gram negative coccoid bacilli small - nonfermenter

Clinical Significance

These organisms may be found in the respiratory tracts of multiple animal species.

B. avium - poultry pathogen, rarely isolated from immunocompromised patients

B. bronchoseptica - associated with chronic respiratory disease in immunocompromised patients, septicemia, meningitis, pneumonia, peritonitis, endocarditis, and wound infections.

B. hinzii - associated with cholangitis and septic arthritis.

B. holmesii - associated with septicemia, endocarditis, septic arthritis (prosthetic/native joint), pyelonephritis, cellulitis, and respiratory infections in immunocompromised patients.

B. petri - potential pathogens in immunocompromised patients.

B. trematum- isolated from poultry workers.

Usual Susceptibility Pattern

These organisms are resistant to amoxicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanate, cefazolin, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, cefixime, and aztreonam. 

They are usually susceptible to anti-pseudomonal beta-lactam agents (piperacillin-tazobactam, ceftazidime, imipenem, meropenem). 

Piperacillin appears to have better activity than ceftazidime. 

These organisms are usually susceptible to aminoglycosides, quinolones, doxycycline, and TMP/SMX and have variable susceptibility to macrolides.