Related Experiment Videos
Peptococcaceae bacteremia
Insights
Bacteremia caused by Peptococcaceae is rare, but young obstetrical patients are at highest risk, particularly with postpartum infections. Prompt antibiotic treatment led to excellent patient outcomes with no lasting complications.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Obstetrics & Gynecology
Background:
- Bacteremia with Peptococcaceae is an uncommon clinical presentation.
- Anaerobic gram-positive cocci infections are often associated with specific patient populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical manifestations and risk factors of bacteremia caused by Peptococcaceae.
- To identify the specific species of Peptococcaceae involved in these infections.
- To evaluate the treatment outcomes for patients with Peptococcaceae bacteremia.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of 12 patients with bacteremic infections due to anaerobic gram-positive cocci over a 20-month period.
- Bacteriologic identification of causative microorganisms.
- Review of patient demographics, clinical presentation, and treatment regimens.
Main Results:
- Obstetrical patients during the peripartum period were identified as the highest-risk group, accounting for eight of the 12 patients.
- Common infections included postpartum endometritis and chorioamnionitis.
- Other infections observed were pylephlebitis, liver microabscesses, ascending cholangitis, thoracic empyema, and necrotizing soft-tissue infection.
- The most frequently identified species were Peptostreptococcus micros and Peptostreptococcus asaccharolyticus.
- Eleven patients received appropriate antibiotic therapy.
Conclusions:
- Peripartum obstetrical patients are at significant risk for Peptococcaceae bacteremia.
- Prompt and appropriate antibiotic therapy is effective in treating these infections.
- Patients generally experience good outcomes with no major sequelae.
Abstract:
Bacteremia with Peptococcaceae is an uncommon clinical manifestation of infection with this family of microorganisms. A 20-month review of 12 patients with bacteremic infections due to anaerobic gram-positive cocci revealed that obstetrical patients during the peripartum period constitute the group at greatest risk for the development of such infections. Eight of the 12 patients were young women hospitalized on the obstetrical service. Seven patients had postpartum endometritis and one patient had chorioamnionitis. The remaining four patients include a single patient each with pylephlebitis and microabscesses of the liver, ascending cholangitis, thoracic empyema, and necrotizing soft-tissue infection. Bacteriologic identification of the microorganisms revealed the following: Peptostreptococcus micros (5 patients), Peptostreptococcus asaccharolyticus (5 patients), Peptostreptococcus magnus (1 patient), and Peptococcus species (1 patient). Eleven of the 12 patients received appropriate antibiotic therapy. All patients did well and there were no major sequelae.