Tuberculosis y una Gemella spp: Una combinación indeseable / Tuberculosis and a Gemella spp: An undesirable combination

El género Gemella spp corresponde a cocos gram positivos, anaerobios facultativos, catalasa negativos, no móviles y no formadores de esporas, usualmente comensales de la cavidad oral, que no suelen ser patógenos en pacientes inmunocompetentes. Sin embargo, puede comportarse como germen oportunista en pacientes inmunosuprimidos o con otros factores de riesgo como mala higiene dental, cirugía gastrointestinal, enfermedades metabólicas entre otras, y se asocia con endocarditis, meningitis y en menor medida compromiso pulmonar. La información respecto a la susceptibilidad antimicrobiana es limitada y se asemeja a la de S viridans, por lo que la penicilina y ampicilina son los medicamentos de elección, sin tener claridad en cuanto a duración del tratamiento, usualmente considerando llevar a 4 semanas o hasta el drenaje de la colección. Éste reporte de caso describe una paciente con tuberculosis en tratamiento, que desarrolla una infección invasiva con documentación de empiema y bacteriemia secundaria por Gemella morbillorum, representando la asociación poco común de ésta infección bacteriana con tuberculosis.

Gemella spp. corresponds to gram positive cocci, facultative anaerobes, negative catalase, non mobile and non spore producers, part of colonizing flora of the oral cavity that are not common pathogens in immunocompetent patients. Nevertheless it may behave as an opportunistic germ in immunosuppressed patients or with other risk factors that include bad dental hygiene, bowel surgery, and metabolic diseases among others. It's associated with infections such as endocarditis, meningitis and less frecuently can implicate the lung. The information regarding antimicrobial susceptibility is limited and resembles S viridans, so penicillin and ampicillin are the medications of choice, without being clear about the duration of treatment, usually giving 4 weeks or until collection drain. This case report describes a patient with known tuberculosis diagnosis and under treatment, that develops an invasive infection with empyema and secondary bloodstream infection by Gemella morbillorum, depicting a previously uncommon but described association of this bacterial infection with tuberculosis.

Epidemiology, Microbiological and Clinical Features, Treatment, and Outcomes of Infective Endocarditis in Crete, Greece / 감염과화학요법

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical and microbiological features, treatment, and outcomes of infective endocarditis (IE) on the island of Crete, a region with high levels of antimicrobial resistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of all hospitalized patients diagnosed with IE at the University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece, from 1995 to 2015, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who met the modified Duke's criteria for definite or possible IE were included. RESULTS: A total of 82 IE patients (median age 67 [range 21–86] years) were included. Most patients suffered from left-sided IE (94%), while most cases of infection occurred in native valves (53.6%). Systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria were lacking in almost half of the patient population. The leading causative microorganism was Staphylococcus aureus, isolated in 24 cases (29%), followed by Streptococcus spp. in 15 (18%) and Enterococcus spp. in 12 (14.5%). A number of rare and difficult to treat microorganisms had been identified, such as Gemella morbillorum in four cases (4.5%), Streptococcus lugdunensis in two (2.5%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae in one (1%). One patient was serologically positive for Coxiella burnetii (1%). All patients received empirical antimicrobial treatment, proven appropriate in 39 blood culture-positive patients (56.5%). Thirteen (16%) patients were classified as culture negative. Seven patients (8.5%) were surgically treated. In-hospital death occurred in 9 patients (11%). CONCLUSION: Changes in IE profile requires continuous epidemiological updates. Staphylococcus and Streptococcus spp. remain the most common etiologic agents. However, the presence of uncommon and/or difficult to treat pathogens raise concerns on the appropriate prophylaxis as well as empirical treatment.

Epidemiology, Microbiological and Clinical Features, Treatment, and Outcomes of Infective Endocarditis in Crete, Greece / 감염과화학요법

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical and microbiological features, treatment, and outcomes of infective endocarditis (IE) on the island of Crete, a region with high levels of antimicrobial resistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of all hospitalized patients diagnosed with IE at the University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece, from 1995 to 2015, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who met the modified Duke's criteria for definite or possible IE were included. RESULTS: A total of 82 IE patients (median age 67 [range 21–86] years) were included. Most patients suffered from left-sided IE (94%), while most cases of infection occurred in native valves (53.6%). Systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria were lacking in almost half of the patient population. The leading causative microorganism was Staphylococcus aureus, isolated in 24 cases (29%), followed by Streptococcus spp. in 15 (18%) and Enterococcus spp. in 12 (14.5%). A number of rare and difficult to treat microorganisms had been identified, such as Gemella morbillorum in four cases (4.5%), Streptococcus lugdunensis in two (2.5%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae in one (1%). One patient was serologically positive for Coxiella burnetii (1%). All patients received empirical antimicrobial treatment, proven appropriate in 39 blood culture-positive patients (56.5%). Thirteen (16%) patients were classified as culture negative. Seven patients (8.5%) were surgically treated. In-hospital death occurred in 9 patients (11%). CONCLUSION: Changes in IE profile requires continuous epidemiological updates. Staphylococcus and Streptococcus spp. remain the most common etiologic agents. However, the presence of uncommon and/or difficult to treat pathogens raise concerns on the appropriate prophylaxis as well as empirical treatment.

Gemella morbillorum Infection after Acupuncture Therapy

No abstract available.

Pyogenic liver abscess caused by Gemella morbillorum / Absceso hepático piógeno causado por Gemella morbillorum

Even though Gemella morbillorum infection (GMI) is rare in humans, it may, nevertheless, cause endocarditis, meningitis, brain abscess, pleural empyema, nephritis, mediastinitis, and - occasionally - liver abscess. We are describing the case of a 64-year-old Caucasian male admitted with fever and abdominal pain. Laboratory parameters revealed inflammation signs, and instrumental examinations showed the presence of diverticula in the ascending colon. Abdominal ultrasound (US) and computer tomography (CT) showed two focal lesions in the right liver lobe. One had the characteristics of a simple cyst; the second was hypoechoic with a low density area, possibly containing necrotic material. US-guided needle biopsy was found negative for neoplastic cells, showing purulent infiltrate. Pus culture was found positive for GMI. Systemic antibiotic therapy, coupled with repeated US-guided needle aspiration, induced the resolution of the hepatic abscess. Few cases have been reported of hepatic abscess caused by GMI in immunocompetent non-cirrhotic subjects.

A pesar de que la infección por Gemella morbillorum (GMI, por el término en inglés) es poco común en seres humanos, puede causar endocarditis, meningitis, absceso cerebral, empiema pleural, nefritis, mediastinitis y en ocasiones, absceso hepático. Describimos el caso de un hombre caucásico de 64 años que ingresó con fiebre y dolor abdominal. Los parámetros de laboratorio revelaron signos de inflamación y los exámenes mostraron la presencia de divertículos en el colon ascendente. La ecografía abdominal (US) y la tomografía computarizada (CT) mostró dos lesiones focales en el lóbulo hepático derecho. Una presentó las características de un quiste simple; la segunda fue hipoecóica con una zona de baja densidad, que posiblemente contenía material necrótico. Biopsia con aguja guiada por US dio un resultado negativo para células neoplásicas, mostrando infiltrado purulento. Cultivo de pus fue encontrado positivo para GMI. Una terapia con antibióticos sistémicos, junto con aspiración repetida con aguja guiada por US indujo a la resolución del absceso hepático. Pocos casos se han reportado de absceso hepático causado por GMI en sujetos inmunocompetentes no cirróticos.

Characterization of oral bacterial diversity of irradiated patients by high-throughput sequencing / 国际口腔科学杂志·英文版

The objective of this study was to investigate the compositional profiles and microbial shifts of oral microbiota during head-and-neck radiotherapy. Bioinformatic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing was performed to assess the diversity and variation of oral microbiota of irradiated patients. Eight patients with head and neck cancers were involved in this study. For each patient, supragingival plaque samples were collected at seven time points before and during radiotherapy. A total of 147,232 qualified sequences were obtained through pyrosequencing and bioinformatic analysis, representing 3,460 species level operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and 140 genus level taxa. Temporal variations were observed across different time points and supported by cluster analysis based on weighted UniFrac metrics. Moreover, the low evenness of oral microbial communities in relative abundance was revealed by Lorenz curves. This study contributed to a better understanding of the detailed characterization of oral bacterial diversity of irradiated patients.

Effect of Xylitol on various Oral bacteria

Xylitol is a five-carbon sugar alcohol that reduces the incidence of caries by inhibiting the growth of oral streptococci, including Streptococcus mutans. Since xylitol is transported via the fructose phosphotransferase system, we hypothesized that it could also affect the growth of other oral bacteria strains. We tested the effects of xylitol against non-periodontopathogenic oral bacteria frequently found in healthy subjects as well as periodontopathogens including Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia. With 5% xylitol, Streptococcus vestibularis and Gemella morbillorum showed marked growth inhibition. With 10% xylitol, all of the tested periodontopathogens and Actinomyces naeslundii showed marked growth inhibition, whereas the growth inhibition of Neisseria mucosa, Neisseria sicca and Veillonella parvula was mild only. Xylitol is a widely used sweetener and the concentration used in our experiment is easily achieved in the oral cavity. If xylitol reduces the growth of periodontopathogens more preferentially, it could also reduce the prevalence of these pathogens and have clinical utility in the prevention or treatment of periodontal disease.

Oral Microbiota Comparison between Healthy volunteers, Periodontitis patients and Oral cancer patients

The presence of distinct bacterial species is found to be dependent on age, diet, and disease. We compared the detection rate of several oral bacterial strains in a cohort of 36 subjects including healthy volunteers, periodontal patients, and oral cancer patients. Gargling samples were obtained from these subjects from which DNA was then extracted. Specific primers for 29 bacterial species were used for PCR detection. In the oral cancer patients, Capnocytophaga ochracea, Gemella morbillorum, and Streptococcus salivarius were detected more frequently compared with the healthy volunteers and periodontitis patients. Fusobacterium nucleatum/polymorphym and Prevotella nigrescens were significantly less prevalent in oral cancer patients than the other groups. In periodontitis patients, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Treponema denticola were more frequently found compared with the healthy volunteers. In the healthy volunteer group, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius was more frequently found than the other groups. The detection rate of several oral bacterial species was thus found to differ between healthy volunteers, periodontitis patients and oral cancer patients.

Empiemas pleurales por Gemella spp: una etiología no tan infrecuente / Pleural empyema due to Gemella spp: Report of 12 cases

Background: Gemella genus bacteria can produce localized or generalized severe infections, but very rarely they have been described as causingpulmonary infections or pleural empyemas. Aim: To characterize patients with empyema caused by Gemella genus bacteria. Material and Methods: The database of a Microbiology laboratory of a Spanish hospital was reviewed, searchingfor Gemella positive cultures ofpleural effusions in a period offive years. Results: We identified 12 patients (11 males) with Gemella spp pleural empyema. Eight were infected with G. haemolysans and four with G. morbillorum. All patients had predisposingfactors such as poor oral hygiene, smoking, chronic cardiovascular or respiratory disease, alcoholism or malignancies. In ten cases, a thoracic drainage tube was placed with fibrinolysis in seven. One patient needed surgery because of a relapse of the empyema. Two patients died because of an advanced neoplasm, and the empyema was resolved in the rest. Conclusions: Gemella pleural empyema can occur and its isolation must not be seen as a contamination.

Suppurative arthritis caused by Gemella morbillorum in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis of the knee / 南方医科大学学报

Rheumatoid arthritis of the knee is a common disease, but suppurative arthritis caused by Gemella morbillorum in the same joint is rare. We report a case of suppurative arthritis caused by Gemella morbillorum in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis. Because the infection symptoms was not typical, the diagnosis was delayed, and the delayed diagnosis and therapy led to a poor outcome of the patient.

Bacterial diversity in the saliva of patients with different oral hygiene indexes

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the bacterial diversity in the saliva of patients with different oral hygiene indexes using of two 16S rRNA gene libraries. Each library was composed of samples from patients with different averages of the differentiated Silness-Löe biofilm index: the first library (A) with an index between 1.0 and 3.0 (considered a high index) and the second library (B) between 0 and 0.5 (considered a low index). Saliva DNA was extracted and the 16S rRNA gene was amplified and cloned. The obtained sequences were compared with those stored at NCBI and RDP GenBank. The saliva of patients with high index presented five known genera - Streptococcus, Granulicatella, Gemella, Veillonella and Peptostreptococcus - and 33.3% of nonculturable bacteria grouped into 23 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). The saliva of patients with low index differed significantly from the first library (p=0.000) and was composed of 42 OTUs distributed into 11 known genera - Streptococcus, Granulicatella, Gemella, Veillonella, Oribacterium, Haemophilus, Escherichia, Neisseria, Prevotella, Capnocytophaga, Actinomyces - including 24.87% of nonculturable bacteria. It was possible to conclude that there is greater bacterial diversity in the saliva of patients with low dental plaque in relation to patients with high dental plaque.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a diversidade bacteriana da saliva de pacientes com diferentes índices de higiene bucal através da construção de duas bibliotecas do gene 16S rRNA. Cada biblioteca foi composta por amostras de saliva de pacientes com índice de biofilme dental de Silness-Löe diferenciado, sendo a primeira (A) com índice de 1,0 a 3,0 (denominada de alto índice) e a segunda (B), entre 0 a 0,5 (denominada de baixo índice). O DNA da saliva foi extraído e o gene 16S rRNA foi amplificado, clonado e sequenciado. As sequências obtidas foram comparadas com aquelas armazenadas no GenBank do NCBI e RDP. A saliva de pacientes com alto índice de biofilme dental apresentou cinco gêneros conhecidos: Streptococcus, Granulicatella, Gemella, Veillonella e Peptostreptococcus e 33,3% de bactérias não-cultivadas, agrupados em 23 unidades taxonômicas operacionais (UTOs). A saliva de pacientes com baixo índice de biofilme dental, foi diferente significativamente da primeira (p=0,000) e foi composta de 42 UTOs, distribuídas em 11 gêneros conhecidos: Streptococcus, Granulicatella, Gemella, Veillonella, Oribacterium, Haemophilus, Escherichia, Neisseria, Prevotella, Capnocytophaga, Actinomyces, além de 24,87% de bactérias não-cultivadas. Pode-se concluir que existe maior diversidade bacteriana na saliva de pacientes com baixo índice de biofilme dental em relação a pacientes com alto índice de biofilme dental.

Liver Abscess due to Gemella morbillorum in a Healthy Woman / 감염과화학요법

Gemella morbillorum is a normal flora of the oral cavity, upper respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, or genitourinary system. Human infection cause by G. morbillorum is very rare. Known predisposing conditions are intravenous drug abuse, alcoholism, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, renal disease and poor oral hygiene. Most reported cases are infective endocarditis and vasculitis. We experienced a case of liver abscess by G. morbillorum in a healthy young woman, who was treated successfully with antibiotics and drainage. We report this case along with a literature review.

An Unusual Case of Tubo-ovarian Abscess by Gemella morbillorum / 감염과화학요법

Gemellae is a gram positive cocci that forms part of the oropharyngeal microflora in humans and is anaerobic to aerotolerant. Unlike the other members of the same genus, G. morbillorum rarely causes human infections. Recently, we experienced a case of tubo-ovarian abscess caused by G. morbillorum which was initially suspected to be actinomycosis associated with intrauterine device. This is the first case in the world on tubo-ovarian abscess with G. morbillorum as the culprit.

An Unusual Case of Tubo-ovarian Abscess by Gemella morbillorum / 감염과화학요법

Gemellae is a gram positive cocci that forms part of the oropharyngeal microflora in humans and is anaerobic to aerotolerant. Unlike the other members of the same genus, G. morbillorum rarely causes human infections. Recently, we experienced a case of tubo-ovarian abscess caused by G. morbillorum which was initially suspected to be actinomycosis associated with intrauterine device. This is the first case in the world on tubo-ovarian abscess with G. morbillorum as the culprit.

Identification of Gemella species by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing from two patients with infective endocarditis / 대한내과학회지

Gemella species are opportunistic pathogens, which cause endocarditis, meningitis, musculoskeletal infections, or pulmonary infections. It is difficult to identify all strains of these species by a conventional culture system. Because 16S rRNA gene has the interspecific polymorphisms to differentiate the bacterial species, 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis could be used to identify these pathogens. To determine the molecular types of two unidentified Gram-positive cocci from two patients with infective endocarditis, PCR amplification and DNA sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene were performed. These sequences of the PCR product were compared with known 16S rRNA gene sequences using GenBank BLAST search. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of two isolates showed > 99% nucleotide similarities with those of Gemella morbillorum (GenBank accession number L14327). Phylogenetic analysis also indicated the close relatedness between these isolates and G. morbillorum.

A Case of Bacteremia due to Gemella morbillorum / 감염과화학요법

Gemella morbillorum is catalase-negative, facultative, anaerobic, gram-positive cocci which is generally thought to be normal inhabitants of mucous membrane in oral cavity, upper respiratory tract, and genitourinary tract of human. It rarely causes infective endocaditis, bacteremia, pneumonia, and localized infection such as lung empyema, brain abscess, and liver abscess. We report a case of bacteremia caused by G. morbillorum in a 44-year-old man who had been an alcoholic and suffered from dental caries. He was successfully treated with antimicrobial therapy

A Case of Bacteremia due to Gemella morbillorum / 감염과화학요법

Gemella morbillorum is catalase-negative, facultative, anaerobic, gram-positive cocci which is generally thought to be normal inhabitants of mucous membrane in oral cavity, upper respiratory tract, and genitourinary tract of human. It rarely causes infective endocaditis, bacteremia, pneumonia, and localized infection such as lung empyema, brain abscess, and liver abscess. We report a case of bacteremia caused by G. morbillorum in a 44-year-old man who had been an alcoholic and suffered from dental caries. He was successfully treated with antimicrobial therapy

Annual Report on External Quality Assessment of Clinical Microbiology Laboratory in Korea (2004) / 임상검사와정도관리

Two trials of external quality assessment for clinical microbiology laboratory were performed in 2004. A total of 12 specimens were distributed. Six specimens were distributed to 293 laboratories with 277 returns in Trial I and six specimens to 293 laboratories with 274 returns in Trial II. The acceptable percentages of Gram-stain on Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus faecalis were 96.0%, 98.5%, 97.4% and 98.2%, respectively. The acceptable percentages of bacterial identification on Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Shigella flexneri, Gemella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis (Trial II), Streptococcus agalactiae, Listeria monocytogenes, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, and Eikenella corrodens were 97.5% (including 33.7% of no growth), 99.6%, 93.2%, 82.3%, 95.4%, 50.7%, 98.4%, 92.3%, 87.0%, 78.9%, 92.5% (including 53.4% of no growth), respectively. The acceptable percentages for antimicrobial susceptibility tests on Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were relatively high, but those on Streptococcus pneumoniae and Enterococcus faecalis were not high. In conclusion, the acceptable percentages of bacterial stain and identification were relatively good. However, it is necessary that the quality assurance of the individual laboratories should be improved for antimicrobial susceptibility tests on Streptococcus pneumoniae and Enterococcus faecalis, and the selection of the most appropriate antimicrobial agents to test should be also considered.