Eikenella corrodens: A pathogen in head and neck infections

doi:10.1016/0030-4220(79)90292-5

Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology

Volume 48, Issue 6, December 1979, Pages 501-505

Oral Surgery, Oral M...

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Abstract

E. corrodens as a co-existent or primary causal agent in six cases of osteomyelitis or orofacial infections following trauma or elective dental extraction is presented. The importance of this facultative gram-negative bacillus as a head and neck pathogen is discussed.

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Eikenella corrodens: A Clinical Problem
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Infections in Children Caused by the HB Group of Bacteria
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Eikenella corrodens, a Recently Recognized Pathogen: Infections in Medical-Surgical Patients and in Association With Methylphenidate Abuse
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Taxonomic Status of Facultative and Strictly Anaerobic “Corroding Bacilli” That Have Been Classified as Bacteroides corrodens
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Studies in Gram-Negative Anaerobes; Gramnegative Rods With Spreading Colonies

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(1948)

Cited by (19)

Head and neck infections in children due to Eikenella corrodens: Report of three cases and review of literature
2020, International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
Eikenella corrodens is a small, nonmotile Gram-negative rod that is part of the normal flora in the mouth, upper respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary tracts. It is classically found in human bite (fist to mouth) infections but is also seen in respiratory tract and head and neck infections.
We describe three cases of E. corrodens causing head and neck infections in children seen in our institution between 2013 and 2019. We also reviewed the available literature on pediatric head and neck infections caused by E. corrodens.
All 3 children recovered and fit the trends identified in the 58 patients published in the literature from 1976 to 2019.
E. corrodens is responsible for a range of head and neck infections in pediatric patients. It is a not infrequent cause of head and neck infections in children and should be considered when selecting presumptive antibiotic therapy.
Eikenella corrodens in head and neck infections
2007, Journal of Infection
Citation Excerpt :
However, in the present study only 2 patients (9%) had malignancy, and the other 20 did not have such underlying diseases. To the best of our knowledge, 29 cases with E. corrodens infections of the head and neck have been reported in the English-language literature,3,6–8,15–26 and only one of those cases had underlying diseases. These lines of evidence indicate that E. corrodens in the upper airway, as opposed to the lower respiratory tract, often exerts its pathogenicity even in hosts with normal immunity.
Eikenella corrodens (E. corrodens) is a Gram-negative facultative anaerobic bacillus that originally was thought to be an attenuated and indigenous bacterium. In recent years, a number of reports have documented that E. corrodens can be a potential pathogen not only in immunocompromised patients but also in hosts with normal immunity. We herein study E. corrodens infections of the head and neck encountered in our department.
Twenty-two consecutive patients treated in our department for E. corrodens infections of the head and neck were retrospectively analyzed. Microbial specimens were subjected to light microscopic examination, aerobic culture using chocolate and sheep blood agar media, and anaerobic culture using Brucella HK agar medium. Cultured bacteria were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility tests by means of the broth microdilution method.
There were 16 males and 6 females with an average age of 29.9 years. Two patients had malignancy, while the other patients had no particular risk factors or underlying diseases. Infected sites were the ear in 6 cases, pharynx in 12 cases (tonsil in 10 cases), paranasal sinuses in 3 cases, and salivary gland in 1 case. Seventeen patients suffered polymicrobial infections. Staphylococcus and Streptococcus were the most frequently detected pathogens coexisting with E. corrodens, and mixed infections of E. corrodens and Streptococcus milleri group bacteria were prone to form abscesses. Isolated E. corrodens was susceptible to third-generation cephems (MIC90 = 0.15–0.25 μg/ml), carbapenems (MIC90 ≦ 0.15 μg/ml), and new quinolones (MIC90 ≦ 0.15 μg/ml), and resistant to oxacillin (MIC90 > 8 μg/ml), cefazolin (MIC90 > 4 μg/ml), macrolides (MIC90 = 4–8 μg/ml), and clindamycin (MIC90 > 4 μg/ml).
E. corrodens infections of the head and neck occur most frequently in the tonsil even in hosts with normal immunity. Coexistence with Streptococcus milleri group bacteria and the use of ineffective antibiotics can be exacerbating factors. First-choice drugs for E. corrodens infections should be third-generation cephems, carbapenems, or new quinolones.
Eikenella corrodens skull infection: A case report with review of the literature
1997, Surgical Neurology
Energy production and peptidase activity in Eikenella corrodens
1996, FEMS Microbiology Letters
Eikenella corrodens 33EK(L), a clinical isolate, was assayed for its ability to utilise amino acids as substrates in the reduction of nitrate to nitrite. The metabolism of proline, glutamate, serine and glutamine was found to result in relatively high rates of nitrate reduction. The ability of cells to metabolise these amino acids from a variety of small peptides was also determined. E. corrodens was found to possess a relatively specific proline aminopeptidase as well as a putative carboxypeptidase activity for glutamate. Energy production in this organism appears to be via oxidative deamination of these key amino acids linked to a respiratory chain, with nitrate acting as the ultimate electron acceptor.
Needle licker's osteomyelitis
1994, American Journal of Emergency Medicine
Eikenella corrodens, a fastidious, slow-growing, gram-negative, facultative anaerobic bacillus may be encountered in wounds exposed to human sallva, especially human bites and head and neck infections. An unusual case of a mixed flora E corrodens and Strepticoccus septic arthritis with adjacent osteomyelitis secondary to saliva contamination from licking an intravenous (IV) needle is presented. A literature search showed 53 previous cases of E corrodens infections in IV drug users. However, none of these infections affected bones or joints. The microbiology and unusual antibiotic sensitivity are presented. Recommendations for treatment include penicillin or ampicillin. Tetracycline is recommended in the penicillin-allergic patient. This is the first case that draws attention to the connection between E corrodens, IV drug use, and septic arthritis and osteomyelitis.
Development of a genetic system for eikenella corrodens: Transfer of plasmids pFM739 and pLES2
1993, Plasmid
Eikenella corrodens is a Gram-negative microaerophilic rod which is emerging as an important human pathogen. Elucidation of the mechanisms by which it causes disease require efficient methods for the transfer of DNA to E. corrodens. Plasmids pFM739 and pLES2 have been transferred by conjugation from Escherichia coli S17-1 to E. corrodens ATCC 23834 at frequencies of 2.5 × 10^-7 and 2.42 × 10^-7, respectively. In addition, both plasmids could be transferred to four additional, clinical strains of E. corrodens at a similar frequency. The use of bacteriophage T4 as a counterselecting agent is also described.

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Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology

Abstract

References (23)

Eikenella corrodens: A Clinical Problem

J. Am. Dent. Assoc

Infections in Children Caused by the HB Group of Bacteria

J. Pediatr

Eikenella corrodens, a Recently Recognized Pathogen: Infections in Medical-Surgical Patients and in Association With Methylphenidate Abuse

Medicine

Studies on an Anaerobic Rod-Spaced, Gram-Negative Microorganism: Bacteroides corrodens N. Sp

Acta Path. Microbial. Scand

Isolation of Bacteroids corrodens From Infections in Children

J. Clin. Pathol

Infections With Eikenella corrodens, a Newly Recognized Human Pathogen

Ann. Intern. Med

Bacteroides corrodens Isolated From Bacteremias

J. Pathol. Bacteriol

Taxonomic Status of Facultative and Strictly Anaerobic “Corroding Bacilli” That Have Been Classified as Bacteroides corrodens

J. Med. Microbiol

Transfer of the Facultative Anaerobic Organism Bacteroides corrodens Eiken to a New Genus

Eikenella, Int. J. Systemic Bacteriol

Eikenella corrodens: A Recently Recognized New Pathogen

Medicine

Studies in Gram-Negative Anaerobes; Gramnegative Rods With Spreading Colonies

Acta Pathol. Microbiol. Scand

Cited by (19)

Head and neck infections in children due to Eikenella corrodens: Report of three cases and review of literature

Eikenella corrodens in head and neck infections

Eikenella corrodens skull infection: A case report with review of the literature

Energy production and peptidase activity in Eikenella corrodens

Needle licker's osteomyelitis

Development of a genetic system for eikenella corrodens: Transfer of plasmids pFM739 and pLES2