title: Kocuria kristinae: a true pathogen in pediatric patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kocuria kristinae is a Gram-positive microorganism, which has rarely been reported as a pathogen that causes infection in humans. Recently, a few studies had concluded that this pathogen can indeed cause infection in immunocompromised hosts. However, the number of reports on K. kristinae infection in pediatric patients is still relatively limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical data on pediatric patients who had K. kristinae cells isolated from their blood specimens during the period from January 2008 to May 2012 in a tertiary-care hospital in northern Taiwan were gathered and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 12 patients with K. kristinae cells isolated from their blood specimens, laboratory test results confirmed seven to have K. kristinae bloodstream infection. Six of them were premature babies, and one had acute leukemia. The infections were all healthcare associated. All the six premature babies had clinical presentation of sepsis and were inserted with percutaneous central venous catheters. One patient had two sets of blood culture positive for K. kristinae infection, and two premature patients had two sets of K. kristinae isolated, one from blood culture and the other from catheter tip culture, both of which were done at the same time. The leukemic child was inserted with a Broviac catheter and had K. kristinae isolated from both blood specimen and Broviac catheter. In the remaining five patients, K. kristinae infection was considered to be contaminant because they had only one set of positive blood culture and had other recognized infections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  K. kristinae can cause infections in premature babies and immunocompromised pediatric patients using long-term intravenous catheters. Therefore, K. kristinae should be considered as a true pathogen and proper treatment should be provided to all susceptible pediatric patients.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, Zhongxing Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Hsin-Mao
authors: HM
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Hsin
authors: H
authors: Chi
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: ncc88@ms2.mmh.org.tw.
authors: Nan-Chang
authors: NC
authors: Chiu
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Fu-Yuan
authors: FY
authors: Huang
mesh_terms: D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D008835:Micrococcaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers
keywords: Catheter-related bacteremia; Healthcare-associated infection; Kocuria kristinae