Dermacoccus sp. isolated from a brain abscess in a 4-year-old child

Area of Science:

• Medical Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Pediatric Neurology

Background:

• Dermacoccus species are infrequently implicated as human pathogens.
• Brain abscesses are serious intracranial infections requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Observation:

• A 4-year-old boy with congenital heart disease presented with a brain abscess.
• The abscess aspirate yielded a polymicrobial infection including Streptococcus intermedius, Aggregatibacter aphrophilus, and a Dermacoccus species.

Findings:

• Dermacoccus species demonstrated delayed growth, requiring 5 days of incubation for identification.
• The patient received meropenem for treatment of the brain abscess.

Implications:

• This case expands the spectrum of clinical manifestations associated with Dermacoccus.
• It underscores the importance of prolonged incubation for isolating fastidious or slow-growing organisms in polymicrobial infections.
• Consideration of rare pathogens like Dermacoccus is crucial in pediatric brain abscesses, particularly in those with underlying conditions.