Gemella morbillorum: an underestimated aetiology of central nervous system infection?
A case is reported of cerebellar abscess and diffuse cerebritis due to Gemella morbillorum. The clinical course was 'biphasic', developing with an acute meningeal infection followed shortly afterwards by suppuration in the cerebellar and cerebral parenchyma; this pattern seemed to suggest a latent survival of the aetiological agent, probably within the central nervous system (CNS), despite systemic antibiotic therapy. Based upon a review of cases so far described, infections of the CNS caused by G. morbillorum appear to be an emerging reality.
Benedetti
Paolo
P
Unità Operativa di Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, Ospedale S. Bortolo, Viale F. Rodolfi 37, 36100 Vicenza, Italy.
Rassu
Mario
M
Laboratorio di Microbiologia, Ospedale S. Bortolo, Viale F. Rodolfi 37, 36100 Vicenza, Italy.
Branscombe
Michele
M
Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Centre for Infectious Disease, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London E1 2AT, UK.
Sefton
Armine
A
Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Centre for Infectious Disease, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London E1 2AT, UK.
Pellizzer
Giampietro
G
Unità Operativa di Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, Ospedale S. Bortolo, Viale F. Rodolfi 37, 36100 Vicenza, Italy.
D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D040141:Staphylococcaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents