Résumé
Chromobacterium violaceum is a Gram-negative bacillus found in soil and water in tropical and subtropical areas. Although usually nonpathogenic, it can cause severe infections in humans. Case series and literature reviews remain rare. In this study, we identified 26 cases that have occurred in French overseas territories (FOTs) since 1999 and reviewed 57 cases published over the past 20 years. The portal of entry was cutaneous for 53% of our patients and 38% of published cases, followed by pulmonary, digestive, mucosal, and urinary. None of our patients were immunocompromised. Nine of our patients were hospitalized in intensive care, including five deaths (19%). In the case review, 26 patients died (46%), four of whom were immunocompromised. Most of the strains were sensitive to ciprofloxacin (FOT 100%, review 98%), cotrimoxazole (FOT 95%, review 94%), and imipenem (FOT 84%, review 92%).