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Bacteremia due to Neisseria cinerea: report of two cases

P M Southern1, A E Kutscher

  • 1Department of Pathology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas 75235-9072.

Insights

Neisseria cinerea bacteremia is rare but can occur in children and adults. While one patient recovered with amoxicillin, another with severe sepsis did not survive.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Neisseria cinerea is a commensal bacterium of the human oropharynx.
  • Bacteremia due to Neisseria cinerea is infrequently reported in clinical literature.

Observation:

  • A 2.5-year-old boy presented with otitis media and pneumonia, developing bacteremia caused by Neisseria cinerea.
  • A 47-year-old man with a history of ethanol abuse developed severe polymicrobial sepsis, with Neisseria cinerea identified as a causative agent, likely from intraabdominal disease.

Findings:

  • The pediatric patient with Neisseria cinerea bacteremia and otitis media/pneumonia demonstrated a positive response to amoxicillin treatment.
  • Despite aggressive antimicrobial interventions, the adult patient with severe polymicrobial sepsis and Neisseria cinerea bacteremia succumbed to the infection.

Implications:

  • These cases highlight the potential pathogenicity of Neisseria cinerea, particularly in immunocompromised or critically ill individuals.
  • Understanding the clinical spectrum and treatment outcomes of Neisseria cinerea bacteremia is crucial for effective patient management.

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