Actinobaculum schaalii, a cause of urinary tract infections in children?
OBJECTIVE
To inform that Actinobaculum schaalii can colonize the urine and cause urinary tract infection in children.


METHODS
Urine samples were examined by wet smear microscopy, incubated in 5% CO(2) for 1-2 days, and species-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for A. schaalii was performed.


RESULTS
In 5 of the 29 screened urines, A. schaalii was found only by real-time PCR in quantities equivalent to ≥ 10(4) -10(5) CFU/mL. In addition, A. schaalii was found in quantities equivalent to ≥ 10(6) CFU/mL by both culture and PCR in two children with a urinary tract infection and large numbers of leucocytes in the urine.


CONCLUSIONS
Actinobaculum schaalii is CO(2)-dependent. Therefore, if there are clinical symptoms and/or a negative culture despite the presence of leucocytes in the urine, Gram staining and incubation in 5% CO(2) or species-specific real-time PCR should be performed to identify A. schaalii.
Department of Paediatrics, Viborg Regional Hospital, Viborg, Denmark. lise.andersen@viborg.rm.dk
Lise Bols
LB
Andersen
Steffen
S
Bank
Birgitte
B
Hertz
Karen Marie
KM
Søby
Jørgen
J
Prag
D000293:Adolescent; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000652:urine*