Arcanobacterium haemolyticum Central Nervous System Abscess and Bacteremia Following Head Trauma

A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Arcanobacterium haemolyticum is an uncommon cause of pharyngitis with rash that occurs predominantly among adolescents and that has been only rarely implicated in severe or systemic infections. We report a case of subdural empyema and bacteremia due to A. haemolyticum in a female adolescent following physical assault with trauma to the head, which required neurosurgical intervention combined with prolonged antibiotic therapy. In addition, we describe the previous occurrences of A. haemolyticum culture positivity recorded over a 15-year period by the microbiology laboratories of the 2 large academic medical centers at which this patient received care and review the epidemiology, laboratory identification, and treatment of this unusual pathogen.

In Brief

Arcanobacterium haemolyticum, an uncommon respiratory pathogen predominantly affecting adolescents, may rarely cause systemic infection. This report describes a case of subdural empyema and bacteremia due to A. haemolyticum after trauma to the head in an adolescent girl who had had recent upper respiratory infection symptoms. The characteristics of this pathogen and its previous identification at the two large academic medical centers where this patient received care are reviewed.