title: Identification of coryneform Actinomyces neuii by MALDI-TOF MS: 5 case reports and review of literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We describe five cases of Actinomyces neuii, isolated from different clinical specimens over a period of five months (from June to October 2011), followed by a review of literature on infections with this micro-organism.
  
  
  METHODS
  All Actinomyces neuii strains were cultured or subcultured on horse blood agar. Identification took place using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Identification was confirmed by conventional biochemical tests and API Coryne test strips (BioMérieux SA). Susceptibility testing was performed on Mueller-Hinton agar supplemented with horse blood, using E-tests (BioMérieux SA). The minimal inhibitory concentrations were determined after 24 and 48 hours of incubation in a 5% CO2 environment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Isolation of this micro-organism was associated with abscesses in two patients and chronic osteomyelitis in one patient. The remaining two patients had positive blood cultures which grew Actinomyces neuii, either as contamination or as catheter-related infection. All Actinomyces neuii identifications were obtained by MALDI-TOF MS and were confirmed by conventional biochemical and API Coryne tests. Identification of one isolate was also confirmed by 16S rRNA sequencing. All strains were susceptible to penicillin. One strain showed heteroresistance for macrolides and lincosamides. Minimal inhibitory concentrations were more reliable and easier to read after 48 hours of incubation, as compared to 24 hours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MALDI-TOF MS analysis allows rapid and reliable identification of Actinomyces neuii, even at subspecies level.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Katinka De Vreese, Department of Medical Microbiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium. katinka.devreese@gmail.com
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: De Vreese
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Verhaegen
mesh_terms: D000190:Actinomyces / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000196:Actinomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents