Infective Endocarditis: Identification of Catalase-Negative, Gram-Positive Cocci from Blood Cultures by Partial 16S rRNA Gene Analysis and by Vitek 2 Examination.

Streptococci, enterococci and Streptococcus-like bacteria are frequent etiologic agents of infective endocarditis and correct species identification can be a laboratory challenge. Viridans streptococci (VS) not seldomly cause contamination of blood cultures. Vitek 2 and partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene were applied in order to compare the results of both methods.

Granulicatella elegans bacteraemia in patients with abdominal infections.

Bloodstream infections with Granulicatella (previous Abiotrophia) elegans are rare. A few reported cases were associated with infective endocarditis. Three cases of bacteraemia with G.

Globicatella sanguinis bacteraemia identified by partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Globicatella sanguinis is a gram-positive coccus, resembling non-haemolytic streptococci. The organism has been isolated infrequently from normally sterile sites of humans. Three isolates obtained by blood culture could not be identified by Rapid 32 ID Strep, but partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene revealed the identity of the isolated bacteria, and supplementary biochemical tests confirmed the species identification.