Premium
Leuconostoc Species—Associated Endocarditis
Author(s) -
Starr Jessica A.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1592/phco.27.5.766
Subject(s) - leuconostoc , endocarditis , gentamicin , penicillin , streptococcaceae , vancomycin , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , bacteria , antibiotics , medicine , surgery , staphylococcus aureus , lactic acid , genetics
Leuconostoc species are gram‐positive cocci belonging to the Streptococcaceae family. The species were generally regarded as nonpathogenic and of little importance in clinical microbiology until several occurrences of Leuconostoc infections were reported in the literature. Unlike many gram‐positive bacteria, Leuconostoc species commonly demonstrate high‐level resistance to vancomycin, with preserved sensitivity to most other antibacterial agents. We describe a 55‐year‐old man who developed endocarditis caused by Leuconostoc species sensitive to vancomycin. The patient received an aortic valve replacement and was treated with penicillin G and gentamicin; he experienced no further complications.