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Volume 6, Issue 2

Beneath the surface: a case report on nonencapsulated -associated invasive disease in an immunocompromised patient Open Access

Abstract

, a prominent human pathogen linked to various systemic diseases, includes non-typeable pneumococci marked by the absence of a detectable capsule. However, the majority of invasive infections are attributed to encapsulated strains. This case report details the first documented instance of invasive disease caused by non-typeable in Argentina since 2017.

A 19-year-old woman presented with haemorrhagic injuries attributed to chronic oral mucosa irritation. Subsequent hospitalization revealed bone marrow aplasia, leading to antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral, and immunosuppressive treatments, culminating in her discharge. Two weeks later, she was readmitted with sepsis related to a respiratory focus, exhibiting a negative COVID-PCR test. After ten days, ICU admission revealed additional infections: positive COVID-PCR test, fungal sinusitis, and bacteremia. Targeted treatments led to improvement, and the patient was subsequently discharged.

Verification of the capsule’s absence utilized traditional methods such as the Quellung reaction, transmission electron microscopy, molecular assays, and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS). The isolate, identified as ST18335, displayed genetic features and antibiotic resistance patterns, concordant between WGS and the agar dilution method. It demonstrated non-susceptibility to penicillin and cefotaxime, based on meningitis breakpoints, as well as meropenem and cotrimoxazole.

This case underscores the clinical significance of non-typeable , emphasizing the necessity for a comprehensive approach to identification and characterization. The findings contribute to ongoing discussions regarding the challenges posed by non-typeable strains in vaccine development, understanding clinical impacts, and addressing antibiotic resistance. As the pneumococcal epidemiological landscape evolves, this case serves as a valuable addition to the evolving knowledge surrounding non-typeable , highlighting the continued need for surveillance and research in infectious diseases.

  • Received:
  • Accepted:
  • Published Online:
Keyword(s): invasive pneumococcal disease , nonencapsulated Streptococcus pneumoniae , transmission electron microscopy and WGS
© 2024 The Authors
  • This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.
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2024-02-13
2024-05-05
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Beneath the surface: a case report on nonencapsulated Streptococcus pneumoniae-associated invasive disease in an immunocompromised patient
Access Microbiology 6, 000743.v3 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1099/acmi.0.000743.v3
/content/journal/acmi/10.1099/acmi.0.000743.v3
/content/journal/acmi/10.1099/acmi.0.000743.v3
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