Microbiology
Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (formally Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomican), Aggregatibacter aphrophilus (was Haemophilus aphrophilus) and Aggregatibacter segnis (was Haemophilus segnis) (as of 2006). A gram-negative coccobacillus.
Syndromes
A. actinomycetemcomicans is a cause of endocarditis (it puts the A in HACEK), head and neck infections and part of aspiration pneumonia with or without empyema.
A. aprophilus causes endocarditis. Part of any disease where spit is an issue.
Treatment
Third-generation cephalosporins, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, tetracyclines. Endocarditis is usually treated with penicillin PLUS an aminoglycoside.Notes
Sloooooow growers and can take > 48 h to pop positive in blood cultures.
Last update: 05/05/18