Kytococcus schroeteri: An Emerging Pathogen on the Horizon

Kytococcus has long been considered to be a skin commensal or environmental contaminant. However, it has emerged as an aetiological agent of prosthetic valve infective endocarditis, pneumonia, bacteremia, osteoarticular, and implant/device infections, especially in patients with immunocompromised conditions, such as haematological malignancies, febrile neutropaenia and in patients on immunosuppressant therapy. We report a case of prosthetic valve endocarditis associated with Kytococcus schroeteri in a patient with rheumatic heart disease and mitral valve replacement. Special efforts to reach correct identification have to be made as Kytococcusis, commonly resistant to penicillins and oxacillins; and often needs prolonged treatment with glycopeptides containing combination antimicrobial therapy.