Microbiology
Gram-positive cocci, may be mistaken for a viridans streptococcus. A. christensenii, A. sanguinicola, A. urinae, A. urinaehominis, A. viridans (2019 Review).
Epidemiologic Risks
Usually disease in the elderly (PubMed). If you isolate an alpha streptococcus in the urine, it is likely Aerococcus although the lab may not bother to identify it unless they have a MALDI-TOV, which, by the way, is not a salute.
Syndromes
Usually cystitis, especially in elderly demented men (PubMed). A. urinae and A. sanguinicola causes cystitis and endocarditis (PubMed).
Positive blood cultures in a bad host, the occasional endocarditis.
Treatment
Penicillin. With endocarditis, maybe combined with an aminoglycoside.
All strains of A. sanguinicola are susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin, cefuroxime, vancomycin, erythromycin, and rifampicin (PubMed). It can have increased MICs to levofloxacin.
"All isolates (of Aerococcus urinae and Aerococcus sanguinicola) were found susceptible to all six antimicrobial agents: penicillin, cefotaxime, meropenem, vancomycin, linezolid, and rifampicin (Pubmed)."
Notes
Curious Cases
Relevant links to my Medscape blog
What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
Last update: 12/18/19