Streptobacillus moniliformis as the Causative Agent in Spondylodiscitis and Psoas Abscess after Rooster Scratches

Abstract

We report a case of Streptobacillus moniliformis spondylodiscitis accompanied by a psoas abscess in an 80-year-old man scratched by a rooster. S. moniliformis was identified from abscess fluid by use of 16S rRNA gene sequencing. After 18 weeks of antimicrobial therapy, the clinical condition of the patient improved. CASE REPORTIn 2005, an 80-year-old farmer was admitted to the university hospital of Clermont-Ferrand, France, for treatment of deterioration of his general health and inflammatory syndrome. In 1993, he had undergone total left hip replacement; in 2000, his right hip was also replaced. At the time of his admission, he was undergoing no treatment and had no known allergy. His symptoms had begun 1 week earlier, a few days after a rooster had scratched his left hand; he experienced shaking chills without fever and back pain that irradiated to both legs on awakening. The pain gradually disappeared.On admission, physical examination showed no specific signs. Laboratory investigations revealed functional renal insufficiency. His leukocyte count was 19 ϫ 10 9 /liter, his neutrophil count was 18 ϫ 10 9 /liter, the serum level of C-reactive protein (CRP) was 488 mg/liter (a normal level is Ͻ5 mg/liter), the serum level of fibrinogen was 8.9 g/liter (a normal level is 2 to 4 g/liter), and the level of procalcitonine was 13 ng/ml (a normal level is Ͻ0.5 ng/ml). Four blood specimens were inoculated into the Bactec blood culture system (Becton Dickinson

Gene Amplification and Sequencing for Bacterial Identification

“…Cases of limb-threatening or fatal infections caused by Campylobacter rectus have also been identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, which were rarely reported to cause invasive infections in the past (Lam et al, 2011). The technique has also been used to identify infections caused by rare Gram-negative bacteria, such as Streptobacillus moniliformis, Bordetella and Arcobacter, which may be difficult to diagnose by conventional methods (Chen et al, 2007;Dubois et al, 2008;Lau, Woo, Teng, et al, 2002;Tang, Ellis, et al, 1998;Woo, Chong, et al, 2001).…”

<i>Streptobacillus moniliformis</i> Bacteremia in a Child: Case Report

“…However, the BD BACTEC PEDS PLUS/F which was used in the present case contains only 0.02% sodium polyanethol sulfonate and this concentration has been reported to allow the isolation of S. moniliformis [8,9] . The diagnosis of S. moniliformis infection has also been made recently using PCR [10] . However, the gold standard remains isolation of the organism.…”

Approved and novel strategies in diagnostics of rat bite fever and otherStreptobacillusinfections in humans and animals

“…10,12,97,[102][103][104] The method by Boot et al 102 amplified a 296 bp fragment and showed considerable sensitivity but also some flaws in specificity due to amplicon sequence similarities with Leptotrichia sp., Fusobacterium necrogenes and Sebaldella termitidis. 102,103 Although these non-specificities could be solved by macro restriction with the endonuclease BfaI, Kimura et al 10 advanced this PCR with respect to specificity by improving oligonucleotide primers according to Table 3.…”