Two cases of nutritionally variant streptococci infection detected by blood culture

Abstract

We report on two cases of infection by nutritionally variant streptococci (NVS) detected by blood culture, NVS being the causative organisms of bacteremia, septicemia and urinary tract infection. The patients were a 61-year-old woman and an 84-year-old man. Abiotrophia defectiva and Granulicatella adiacens, classified as types of NVS, were isolated from them by blood culture, respectively. Their characteristics cannot be determined using ordinary sheep blood agar medium even if they are Streptococcus spp. We should consider modifications of the selection culture medium and culture conditions when Gram-positive cocci poorly grow in ordinary blood agar medium although they are observed in smears.