Microbiology
Gram-positive cocci.
A. adiacens, A. defectiva, A. balaenopterae found in the minke whale, and A. elegans Most disease is due to A. defectiva; I can't speak to disease in minke whales.
Some Abiotrophia have been renamed Granulicatella. Just to piss me off. I suspect that microbiologists like to get drunk once a year and rename organisms to annoy clinicians.
It can be difficult to grow in blood cultures; hence the name.
Was called nutritionally deficient streptococcus back in the day.
Epidemiologic Risks
Mouth flora.
Syndromes
If you get a positive blood culture, think endocarditis. It is reported to cause the occasional arthritis, meningitis, prosthetic infection and other infections.
Treatment
Penicillin +/- gentamicin for endocarditis. In vitro susceptibilities in one study (PubMed) were penicillin 8%; amoxicillin 92%; ceftriaxone 83%; meropenem 100%; and 100% for clindamycin, rifampin, levofloxacin, ofloxacin, quinupristin/dalfopristin, and vancomycin. Daptomycin works in vitro (PubMed).
Notes
Endocarditis does not respond well to therapy, often has emboli, a ring abscess, and valve failure.
The name means life-nutrition-deficiency.
Curious Cases
Relevant links to my Medscape blog
Last update: 12/02/19