Clinical Laboratory Perspective on Streptococcus halichoeri, an Unusual Nonhemolytic, Lancefield Group B Streptococcus Causing Human Infections

Streptococcus halichoeri is a relatively newly identified species of pyogenic streptococci that causes zoonotic infection in humans. S. halichoeri was first described in 2004 as indigenous to seals, and only 8 reports of human S. halichoeri infection have been published. S. halichoeri grows as small...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Emerging infectious diseases 2021-05, Vol.27 (5), p.1309-1316
Main Authors: Shakir, Salika M, Gill, Rahul, Salberg, Jonathan, Slechta, E Susan, Feldman, Mark, Fritsche, Thomas, Clarridge, Jill, Sharp, Susan E, Fisher, Mark A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acids
Antimicrobial agents
antimicrobial resistance
Back pain
bacteria
Biopsy
Case studies
Causes of
Clinical Laboratory on Human Infections Caused by Unusual Nonhemolytic Lancefield Group B
Diabetes
Edema
grey seals
Hypertension
Identification and classification
Infectious bone diseases
Ionization
Joint diseases
Joint replacement surgery
Joint surgery
Laboratories
Magnetic resonance imaging
Mass spectrometry
Original Research
Penicillin
Prostheses
Scientific imaging
Streptococcal infections
streptococci
Streptococcus
Streptococcus halichoeri
Streptococcus infections
underlying health conditions
Vertebrae
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Summary:Streptococcus halichoeri is a relatively newly identified species of pyogenic streptococci that causes zoonotic infection in humans. S. halichoeri was first described in 2004 as indigenous to seals, and only 8 reports of human S. halichoeri infection have been published. S. halichoeri grows as small, white, nonhemolytic colonies and may be strongly catalase-positive on routine blood agar media, which can lead to isolates being misidentified as coagulase-negative staphylococci. S. halichoeri tests positive for Lancefield group B antigen, like S. agalactiae, but can be identified with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry or partial 16S rRNA sequencing. We describe 3 cases of S. halichoeri bone and joint infections in patients in the United States with underlying health conditions. In addition, we examine the microbiologic characteristics of S. halichoeri and discuss the importance of fully identifying this organism that might otherwise be disregarded as a skin commensal.
ISSN:1080-6040
1080-6059
DOI:10.3201/eid2705.203428