New anaerobic bacteria causing infection: Bacteremia due to Murdochiella asaccharolytica

Elsevier

Available online 14 January 2023, 102697

AnaerobeAuthor links open overlay panelAbstract

Murdochiella asaccharolytica is a Gram-positive anaerobic coccus firstly isolated from wound specimens, since then, it was very rarely isolated from human infections. We report the first case of bloodstream infection due to this bacterium in a 90 years-old-man. The patient had a history of B-cell lymphoma and presented with pain and induration of the base of penis along with fever. A blood culture was obtained yielding M. asaccharolytica in pure culture. Only resistance to clindamycin was demonstrated. Treatment with metronidazole was started and the clinical evolution improved with antimicrobial treatment, being discharged after 6 days.

Introduction

Bacteremia is a serious infection that can be produced by a wide variety of microorganisms, including anaerobic bacteria. Bacteremia due to anaerobes are mainly caused by Bacteroides fragilis [1], but since the introduction of mass spectrometry as a routine technique in the microbiology laboratory, more and more anaerobic microorganisms are being identified as a cause of infection, including those in the bloodstream. However, the real prevalence and the significance of these infections are still unknown.

Murdochiella asaccharolytica are obligate anaerobic Gram-positive cocci firstly described by Ulger-Toprak et al. [2] in 2010, and there were only single isolates from human infections.

We recently observed a case of bloodstream infection due to M. asaccharolytica in a patient with a clinical history of B-cell lymphoma and penis cancer. To our knowledge, this is the first description of this anaerobic bacterium obtained from blood in pure culture.

Section snippetsCase report

A 90-year-old man was admitted to the Emergency Department of our hospital due to fever (38 °C), pain and penis induration. His clinical history was remarkable for a B-cell lymphoma clinically stable. At admission, the physical exam only revealed a mass on the penis base, abscessed and attached to depth tissues. Blood analysis showed increased levels of C-reactive protein [150 mg/L, (0–5 mg/dL)], and an elevated white blood cell count [18,330/mm3, (3,500–10,500/mm3)]. An abdominal and pelvic

Discussion

Anaerobic bacteria are part of the normal human microbiota but can be associated with a wide range of human infections, including bacteremia [5]. These infections are generally serious and can be caused by several types of anaerobes. Over recent years, new anaerobic pathogens have been identified as responsible for bacteremia and other infections, although their clinical significance and true prevalence are yet to be established. Murdochiella asaccharolytica, first named in 2010 [2], was

Declaration of competing interest

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

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