Life-threatening invasive Helcococcus kunzii infections in intravenous-drug users and ermA-mediated erythromycin resistance

J Clin Microbiol. 2005 Dec;43(12):6205-8. doi: 10.1128/JCM.43.12.6205-6208.2005.

Abstract

We report the first two cases of life-threatening invasive Helcococcus kunzii infection, with primary bacteremia and empyema thoracis, respectively. Gram smears of both H. kunzii isolates showed a mixture of gram-positive and gram-negative cocci. The isolate from the first patient, resistant to erythromycin and clindamycin, possessed an ermA gene.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bacteremia / microbiology*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Erythromycin / pharmacology*
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Gram-Positive Cocci / drug effects
  • Gram-Positive Cocci / isolation & purification*
  • Gram-Positive Cocci / pathogenicity
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methyltransferases / genetics*
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / complications*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Erythromycin
  • Methyltransferases
  • ErmA protein, Bacteria

Associated data

  • GENBANK/DQ082898
  • GENBANK/DQ082899
  • GENBANK/DQ082900