title: The significance of nongonococcal, nonmeningococcal Neisseria isolates from blood cultures.
abstract: Nongonococcal, nonmeningococcal neisseriae are part of the normal respiratory flora and infrequently cause disease. These organisms include Neisseria lactamica, Neisseria mucosa, Neisseria sicca, Neisseria flavescens, Neisseria subflava , Neisseria perflava , Neisseria flava , and Branhamella catarrhalis (previously classified as Neisseria catarrhalis). Blood cultures positive for these bacteria have been associated with serious infections, including endocarditis, septicemia, and meningitis. In a retrospective survey of a 10-year period, 1970-1980, eight patients were identified at Hartford Hospital (Hartford, Conn.) whose blood cultures were positive for nongonococcal, nonmeningococcal neisseriae. In four patients, the neisseria blood isolates were associated with serious infections: two with endocarditis, one with sepsis, and one with meningitis. In four other patients, the neisseria blood isolates were contaminants.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009343:Neisseria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis