A bloodstream infection by Ruminococcus gnavus in a patient with a gall bladder perforation

Anaerobe. 2017 Oct:47:129-131. doi: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2017.05.007. Epub 2017 May 15.

Abstract

Ruminococcus gnavus is frequently found among human gut microbiome. However, human bloodstream infections by R. gnavus have been reported only three times. Clinical details were lacking for one case; the other two cases with concurrent bacteremia in patients with diverticulitis. We report a case of R. gnavus bloodstream infection in a patient with a gall bladder perforation suggesting its association with damage to the gastrointestinal tract. R. gnavus was misidentified using biochemical test but 16S rRNA sequencing and Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry were useful for correct identification. With the advancement of identification method in clinical laboratory, more frequent identification of R. gnavus from clinical specimens is expected.

Keywords: Bacteremia; Gram stain; MALDI-TOF MS; R. gnavus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Bacteriological Techniques
  • Cholecystitis / complications*
  • Cluster Analysis
  • DNA, Bacterial / chemistry
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • DNA, Ribosomal / chemistry
  • DNA, Ribosomal / genetics
  • Female
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / etiology*
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Ruminococcus / classification
  • Ruminococcus / genetics
  • Ruminococcus / isolation & purification*
  • Sepsis / etiology*
  • Sepsis / pathology*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
  • Spontaneous Perforation / complications*

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • DNA, Ribosomal
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S