Bacterial meningitis from Rothia mucilaginosa in patients with malignancy or undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2008 Mar;50(3):673-6. doi: 10.1002/pbc.21286.

Abstract

Opportunistic infections contribute to morbidity and mortality of patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and treatment for malignancies. Rothia mucilaginosa, a gram-positive bacterium, is responsible for rare, but often fatal meningitis in severely immunocompromised patients. We describe two cases of meningitis from discrete strains of R. mucilaginosa on our pediatric bone marrow transplant unit, summarize the published cases of R. mucilaginosa meningitis in oncology and stem cell transplant patients, and provide updated recommendations regarding the use of antibiotic therapy in this patient population.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Actinomycetales Infections / drug therapy
  • Actinomycetales Infections / etiology
  • Actinomycetales Infections / microbiology*
  • Adolescent
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Ceftazidime / administration & dosage
  • Ceftazidime / therapeutic use
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts
  • Child
  • Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Leukemia, Megakaryoblastic, Acute / surgery*
  • Male
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / drug therapy
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / etiology
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / microbiology*
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / surgery
  • Meropenem
  • Micrococcaceae / isolation & purification*
  • Opportunistic Infections / drug therapy
  • Opportunistic Infections / etiology
  • Opportunistic Infections / microbiology*
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology
  • Postoperative Complications / microbiology*
  • Rifampin / administration & dosage
  • Rifampin / therapeutic use
  • Sepsis / etiology
  • Thienamycins / administration & dosage
  • Thienamycins / therapeutic use
  • Vancomycin / administration & dosage
  • Vancomycin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Thienamycins
  • Vancomycin
  • Ceftazidime
  • Meropenem
  • Rifampin