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Brain abscess due to Streptococcus acidominimus: first case report.
Lawrence A Cone1, Shahin Etebar, Robert B Waterbor
1Department of Medicine, Eisenhower Medical Center, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270, USA. laconemedico@aol.com
Surgical Neurology
|February 27, 2007
Summary
Accurate identification of Streptococcus acidominimus is crucial for effective treatment. Differentiating it from Streptococcus viridans ensures appropriate antimicrobial therapy, as seen in a successful brain abscess case.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Streptococcus acidominimus shares phenotypic similarities with Streptococcus viridans, necessitating advanced differentiation methods.
- Previous reports of S. acidominimus infections are rare, with only one documented case of pneumonia, pericarditis, and meningitis.
Observation:
- A patient presented with a brain abscess initially misidentified as Streptococcus viridans.
- Subsequent speciation confirmed the causative agent as Streptococcus acidominimus.
Findings:
- Streptococcus viridans exhibits a high resistance rate (49%) to beta-lactam antimicrobials in abscesses.
- Streptococcus acidominimus is typically sensitive to beta-lactams, including ceftriaxone.
Implications:
- Accurate speciation of viridans group streptococci is vital for guiding antimicrobial selection.
- Prompt and correct identification can lead to improved patient outcomes, as demonstrated by the successful ceftriaxone treatment for brain abscess.
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