Micrococcus luteus pneumonia: A case report and review of the literature

Abstract

The clinical course of a 69-year-old male with acute myelogenous leukemia is described who, while extremely leukopenic (less than 100 neutrophils/microliter) from chemotherapy, developed a cavitating pneumonia due to a gram-positive coccus, Micrococcus luteus. Aggressive antibiotic management and attainment of complete remission of his leukemia resulted in a successful outcome. A review of the literature regarding the pathogenicity of this organism and, in particular, its occurrence as a cause of pneumonia is presented.

Kocuria kristinae infection associated with acute cholecystitis

“…are uncommon but are recognized, especially in immunocompromised patients with underlying diseases. The organism M. luteus has been described as the causative agent in meningitis [6], intracranial abscess [7], arthritis [8], pneumonia [9] and catheter-related sepsis in patients undergoing hemodialysis [10] or leukaemia treatment [11]. Other infections associated with Micrococcus and related organisms include continuous ambulatory dialysis peritonitis [12], endocarditis [13] and infection of cerebrospinal fluid shunts [14].…”

Micrococcus luteusTeichuronic Acids Activate Human and Murine Monocytic Cells in a CD14- and Toll-Like Receptor 4-Dependent Manner

“…Human skin is considered to be a primary habitat of the bacterium, and it has also been detected in the mucous membranes as well as in water and soil (18). Recently, this organism was recognized as an opportunistic pathogen and has been implicated in recurrent bacteremia (29,44), septic shock (3), septic arthritis (45), endocarditis (5,10,35), meningitis (7), intracranial suppuration (36), and cavitating pneumonia in immunosuppressed patients (38).…”

Kytococcus schroeteri Pneumonia in Two Patients with a Hematological Malignancy

“…K. sedentarius was isolated from blood cultures and a lung biopsy taken at autopsy of a neutropenic patient with AML who died of pulmonary hemorrhage [10]. There are also several case reports of pneumonia by micrococci in patients with acute leukemia [11][12][13][14][15][16]. Because the genus Kytococcus has been described only recently [2,3], it is possible that one or more of these cases of micrococcal pneumonia was actually due to kytococcal infection.…”