Cesarean-Related Kocuria kristinae Bacteremia

Abstract

Kocuria kristinae infection is quite rare in clinical practice. Until now, only about 20 cases of Kocuria kristinae infection have been reported in immunocompromised individuals or in patients who have undergone surgery. Here we report a case of Kocuria kristinae bacteremia after cesarean section. The patient, a 28-year-old woman, experienced intermittent high fever for 2 months beginning 10 days after undergoing a cesarean section. Organ involvement was not observed in this patient. Repeated bacteria isolation from peripheral blood verified Kocuria kristinae infection. The patient recovered after 2 weeks of an intravenous levofloxacin and vancomycin treatment indicated by antibiotic sensitivity tests. The present report and previous literatures indicate that Kocuria kristinae infections occur not only in immunocompromised hosts but also in immunopotent individuals undergoing operations or interventional procedures. Clinicians should be aware that Kocuria kristinae is a potential pathogen in nosocomial infections.