Pyogenic liver abscess caused by Gemella morbillorum

Abstract

Even though Gemella morbillorum infection (GMI) is rare in humans, it may, nevertheless, cause endocarditis, meningitis, brain abscess, pleural empyema, nephritis, mediastinitis, and – occasionally – liver abscess. We are describing the case of a 64-year-old Caucasian male admitted with fever and abdominal pain. Laboratory parameters revealed inflammation signs, and instrumental examinations showed the presence of diverticula in the ascending colon. Abdominal ultrasound (US) and computer tomography (CT) showed two focal lesions in the right liver lobe. One had the characteristics of a simple cyst; the second was hypoechoic with a low density area, possibly containing necrotic material. US-guided needle biopsy was found negative for neoplastic cells, showing purulent infiltrate. Pus culture was found positive for GMI. Systemic antibiotic therapy, coupled with repeated US-guided needle aspiration, induced the resolution of the hepatic abscess. Few cases have been reported of hepatic abscess caused by GMI in immunocompetent non-cirrhotic subjects.

Gemella morbillorumas a source bacteria for necrotising fasciitis of the torso

“…G. morbillorum is a facultative anaerobe gram-positive coccus considered to be normal flora of the respiratory, urinary and gastrointestinal tracts in humans 2. Case reports have implicated G. morbillorum as the causative organism of infections throughout the body, most commonly neurological infections and endocarditis 2–6. These tend to occur in immunocompromised hosts.…”

“…Gemella morbillorum, formerly known as Streptococcus morbillorum until 1988,1 is part of the normal flora of the respiratory, urinary and gastrointestinal tracts in humans 2. It is an uncommon cause of infection; however, there are case reports in the literature implicating this organism in serious and fatal infections 2–6. Most of these reports are from endocarditis but other organs have also been affected, especially in immunocompromised patients.…”

Intracranial subdural abscess with polymicrobial infections due to frontal sinusitis in an adolescent: life‐threatening complication of a common disease

“…Gemella morbillorum , a facultative anaerobic Gram‐positive coccus, is a part of the normal flora of the human oropharynx and gastrointestinal and female genital tracts . Although G. morbillorum is rarely isolated from human infections, it may cause severe localized and generalized infections such as endocarditis , liver abscess , pleural empyema , and brain abscess . Chotai et al reviewed eight previously reported cases of brain abscess caused by G. morbillorum along with their own case; they found that most of the cases (62.5%) were associated with odontogenic infections and previous history of dental procedures.…”

Gemella hepatic abscesses: a case report and review of the literature

“…were reported to cause severe infections. Previously damaged tissue constitutes a risk factor as well [5].…”