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Welcome to the April, 2013 edition of SciEP newsletter, providing monthly summaries of articles on science & education related topics of interest to scientist and professionals. The mission of our journals is to provide an open access forum for publishing new findings on issues pertinent to scientific and academic field. We also invite you to submit original research papers, review articles, short reports, or case studies are considered for publication in our Multidisciplinary Journals.

American Journal of Public Health Research
DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-1-1-3

The Implementation of a Tele-Homecare System with Service Oriented Architecture and HL7 Message Transmission Standard
Ching-Sung Wang

American Journal of Medical and Biological Research
DOI: 10.12691/ajmbr-1-1-2

The Influence of Ethanol on Pyruvate Kinases Activity in Vivo, in Vitro, in Silico
Lelevich Sergey Vladimirovich, Khrustalev Vladislav Victorovich, Barkovsky Eugene Victorovich, Shedogubova Tatyana Aleksandrovna

American Journal of Medical Sciences and Medicine
DOI: 10.12691/ajmsm-1-1-1

Clinical and Histological Features in Wegener Granulomatosis
Li Cavoli Gioacchino, Passantino Rita, Bono Luisa, Tortorici Calogera, Ferrantelli Angelo, Giammarresi Carlo, Rotolo Ugo

American Journal of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
DOI: 10.12691/ajidm-1-1-2

The Curse of Lymphatic Filariasis: Would the Continual Use of Diethylcarbamazine Eliminate this Scourge in Papua New Guinea?
Anne Lanham, Lillian Mwanri

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Granulicatella Elegans Induced Sepsis; A Rare Case of Nutritionally Variant Streptococcal Infection

Ladan Mohammadi, Noman Ahmed Jang Khan*, Lavanya Vuppu Panghat

Department of Internal Medicine, Conemaugh Memorial Hospital, Johnstown, PA, USA

Abstract: Granulicatella genus , a nutritionally mutant variant of viridans streptococci was originally classified as a part of abiotrophia group until 1995 and later in 2000 as a separate genus are considered as a rare cause of blood stream infections. They are part of normal flora of human oral cavity, intestinal and urogenital tracts and are notorious for causing odontogenic infections. We present a rare case of sepsis in a 90 year old male caused by Granulicatella elegans and some of the proposed methods of diagnosis and treatment of this uncommon infection.

Keywords: granulicatella, streptococci, sepsis

Citation: Ladan Mohammadi, Noman Ahmed Jang Khan, Lavanya Vuppu Panghat, Granulicatella Elegans Induced Sepsis; A Rare Case of Nutritionally Variant Streptococcal Infection. American Journal of Medical Case Reports, 5 (3). 77-78. January 2017. doi:10.12691/ajmcr-5-3-8

1. Introduction

Granulicatella genus, a nutritionally mutant variant of viridans streptococci, was originally classified as a part of Abiotrophia group until 1995 and later in 2000 as a separate genus. It is considered as a rare cause of blood stream infections. Nutritionally variant streptococci (NVS) are part of normal flora of human oral cavity, intestinal and urogenital tracts and are notorious for causing odontogenic infections. NVS can be classified into Abiotrophia and Granulicatella. Abiotrophia genus includes Abiotrophia defective whereas Granulicatella genus comprises G. adiacens, G. balaenopterae, and G. elegans. Granulicatella elagans is a rare cause of sepsis associated with oral flora.

2. Case History

A 90 year-old male presented to the emergency department with an unresponsive episode. His past medical history is significant for severe dementia, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, severe systolic heart failure with left ventricular ejection fraction of 20%, severe pulmonary hypertension and atrial fibrillation with pacemaker. Physical examination was remarkable for tachypnea and poor oral hygiene. An urgent computerized tomography (CT) of the head without contrast was performed and did not reveal any acute intracranial pathology. Initial laboratory work-up showed white blood cell count elevated at 28,000/mm³ and bandemia. The patient’s oxygen saturation continuously decreased despite oxygen therapy and a trial of BiPAP. He was admitted to the intensive care unit, intubated and put on mechanical ventilator. The patient met systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) sepsis criteria and was started empirically on vancomycin and zosyn. The blood cultures collected from his right and left arm grew gram positive cocci suggestive of streptococcus resembling Granulicatella elegans on VITEK 2XL using antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) and identification (IT) cards and was found susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin, streptomycin and vancomycin. Antimicrobials were tailored to penicillin G of 18,000,000 units daily. Patient's leukocytosis and bandemia resolved and repeat blood cultures were negative. Patient’s mental status did not change despite negative blood cultures and IV antimicrobial administration. Upon family’s request, he was transferred to palliative medicine care for comfort care measures. In the light of patient’s clinical presentation, multiple co-morbidities, poor oral hygiene and positive blood cultures, this is a rare case of G. elegans induced sepsis. As per thorough literature search very few cases of G. elegans induced sepsis have been reported to date.

3. Discussion

Viridans streptococci are one of the most common organism involved in native valve endocarditis. Nutritionally variant streptococci are nutritionally mutant viridans streptococci implicated in a variety of clinical infections. A typical source for bacteria to enter the bloodstream is via tooth-tissue with Granulicatella elegans being the most fastidious bacteria.

Granulicatella species are uncommon clinical isolates, with the majority of reported isolates recovered from blood cultures [1]. Bacteremia has also been reported in absence of endocarditis. [2] Specimens from dental plaque which had been cultured, showed isolates of gram-positive coccoids in chains with bacteriolytic activity and satelitism. Very few case reports of Granulicatella infections have been reported so far with infective endocarditis and sepsis being the most common infections [3,4]. Granulicatella has also been associated with osteomyelitis, meningitis, various abscesses, peritonitis, pneumonia, and severe infections of foreign bodies such as pacemaker wires or prosthetic valves.

Biomedical testing and/or molecular confirmation are used to identify Granulicatella isolates. Although false identification of species has been reported with biomedical testing, reporting G. elegans as Streptococcus acidominimus, Gemella morbillorum and G. adiacens. [5] Accelerating the identification of Granulicatella has been challenging, many methods such as the ribosomal 16S-23S intergenic spacer region [6] and fluorescence in situ hybridization has been used [7]. Due to its fastidious nature, slow growth and increased resistance to antibiotics, Granulicatella spp. infection should be always suspected in isolates having gram positive cocci suggestive of streptococci especially in elderly and showing some resistance to conventional anti streptococcal antimicrobials including cephalosporins and macrolides.

Antibiotic susceptibility testing by disc diffusion is not recommended for Granulicatella isolates but broth micro dilution is suggested. [8] G. elegans has a susceptibility rate of 100% to penicillin, 0% to cefuroxime and 33% to ceftriaxone. [9] It shows resistance to clindamycin, tetracyclin, ciprofloxacin and erythromycin and β -lactam antibiotics but not to vancomycin or rifampin has been reported. [9] Since many infections are managed without susceptibility testing, the need to routinely perform them is unclear. [8]

4. Conclusion

Granulicatella species being considered a rare cause of infection are suggested in patients with slow-growing, α-hemolytic streptococci isolated from blood cultures or other sterile site. Early diagnosis and initiation of antibiotic treatment including a combination of benzyl penicillin, ampicillin/ amoxicillin, or vancomycin alongside gentamicin [10] is highly recommended before further results are obtained.

References

[1]   | Cargill, J.S., Scott, K.S., Gascoyne-Binzi, D., Sandoe. J.A.T. 2012. Granulicatella infection: diagnosis and management. J. Med Microbio. 61: 755-761.
[2]   | Abdul- Redha, R. J., Prag, J., Sonksen, U. W., Kemp, M., Andersen, K. & Christensen, J. J (2007). Granulicatella elegans bacteraemia in patients with abdominal infection. Scand J infect Dis. 39, 830-833.
[3]   | Senn L. Entenza JM. Greub G, et al. Bloodstream and endovascular infections due to Abiotrophia defectiva and Granulicatella species. BMC Infect Dis. 2006; 6: 9.
[4]   | Brouqui P. Raoult D. Endocarditis due to rare and fastidious bacteria. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2001; 14: 177-207.
[5]   | Al-Tawfiq, J. A., Kiwan, G. & Murrar, H. (2007). Granulicatella elegans native valve infective endocarditis: case report and review. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 57, 439-441.
[6]   | Tung, S. K., Teng, L. J., Vaneechoutte, M., Chen, H. M. & Chang, T.C (2007). Identification of species of Abiotrophia, Enterococcus, Granulicatella and Streptococcus by sequence analysis of the ribosomal 16S-23S intergenic spacer region. J Med Microbiol. 56, 504-513.
[7]   | Gescher, D. M., Kovacevic, D., Schmiedel, D., Siemoneit, S., Mallmann, C., Halle, E., Gobel, U. B. & Moter, A. (2008). Flourescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) accelerates identification of Gram-positive cocci in positive blood cultures. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 32 (Suppl. 1), S51-S59.
[8]   | Jorgensen, J. H. & Hindler, J. F. (2007). New consensus guidelines from the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute for antimicrobial susceptibility testing of infrequently isolates or fastidious bacteria. Clin Infect Dis. 44, 280-286.
[9]   | Tuohy, M. J., Procop, G. W. & Washington, J. A. (2000). Antimicrobial susceptibility of Abiotrophia adiacens and Abiotrophia defectiva, Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 38, 189-191.

[10]  
Habib, G., Hoen, B., Tornos, P., Thuny, F., Prendergast, B., Vilacosta, I., Moreillon, P., de Jesus Antunes, M., Thilen, U., & other authors (2009). Guidelines on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infective endocarditis (new version 2009): the Task Force on the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Infective Endocarditis of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Eur Heart J. 30, 2369-2413.