Coinfection of Fusobacterium nucleatum and Actinomyces israelii in mastoiditis diagnosed by next-generation DNA sequencing

J Clin Microbiol. 2014 May;52(5):1789-92. doi: 10.1128/JCM.03133-13. Epub 2014 Feb 26.

Abstract

Some bacterial infections involve potentially complex mixtures of species that can now be distinguished using next-generation DNA sequencing. We present a case of mastoiditis where Gram stain, culture, and molecular diagnosis were nondiagnostic or discrepant. Next-generation sequencing implicated coinfection of Fusobacterium nucleatum and Actinomyces israelii, resolving these diagnostic discrepancies.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Actinomyces / isolation & purification*
  • Actinomycosis / diagnosis
  • Actinomycosis / microbiology
  • Coinfection / diagnosis*
  • Coinfection / microbiology*
  • Fusobacterium Infections / diagnosis
  • Fusobacterium Infections / microbiology
  • Fusobacterium nucleatum / genetics
  • Fusobacterium nucleatum / isolation & purification*
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / methods
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mastoiditis / diagnosis*
  • Mastoiditis / microbiology*
  • Middle Aged