Infection due to Rothia mucilaginosa. A respiratory pathogen?

Introduction: To describe the spectrum of infections caused by Rothia mucilaginosa. Methods: Retrospective study of 20 cases diagnosed with R. mucilaginosa from 2009 to 2012. Results: Pulmonary infection was the most frequent clinical presentation (n=14, 70%): bronchiectasis infected (10), followed by pleural empyema (2), pneumonia (1) and acute bronchitis (1). Two episodes were of gastrointestinal origin: cholangitis secondary to biliary drainage and secondary peritonitis. Two episodes included bacteremia in patients with hematological malignancy. One patient had a surgical wound infection with bacteremia, and another had a bacteremic urinary tract infection in a patient with nephrostomy. Discussion: R. mucilaginosa may be responsible for infections of the lower respiratory tract in predisposed patients. (C) 2013 Elsevier Espana, S.L. and Sociedad Espanola de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiologia Clinica. All rights reserved.