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Bacterial pericarditis caused by Lactobacillus iners in an infant
Kenji Murata1, Takayuki Hoshina, Mitsumasa Saito
1Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease
|July 24, 2012
Summary
A rare case of bacterial pericarditis in an infant was caused by Lactobacillus iners. This bacterium, usually considered weakly pathogenic, was detected using advanced genetic analysis of pericardial fluid.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Molecular Diagnostics
Background:
- Bacterial pericarditis is a serious condition in infants.
- Lactobacillus iners is often considered a commensal organism.
- Traditional culture methods may fail to detect certain bacteria in clinical samples.
Observation:
- A 6-month-old male infant presented with symptoms suggestive of pericarditis.
- Initial pericardial fluid cultures were negative for bacterial growth.
- Advanced molecular techniques were employed for pathogen identification.
Findings:
- 16S rRNA gene amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) successfully identified Lactobacillus iners in the pericardial fluid.
- Sequence analysis confirmed the presence of L. iners.
- This case highlights the potential pathogenicity of L. iners in a vulnerable population.
Implications:
- The findings suggest that Lactobacillus iners can cause severe infections, including bacterial pericarditis, in infants.
- Molecular methods like 16S rRNA PCR are crucial for diagnosing infections caused by fastidious or difficult-to-culture organisms.
- This case broadens the understanding of Lactobacillus iners as a potential pathogen in pediatric settings.
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