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Invasive pneumococcal disease caused by mucoid serotype 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae: a case report and literature review

Sugimoto N, Yamagishi Y, Hirai J, Sakanashi D, Suematsu H, Nishiyama N, Koizumi Y, Mikamo H

BMC research notes, 2017

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Among the different serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae, serotype 3 has received global attention. We report the fatal case of a 76-year-old Japanese man who had an invasive pneumococcal disease associated with pneumonia caused by serotype 3 S. pneumoniae.

CASE PRESENTATION: The patient had a history of hypertension, laryngeal cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Following a cerebral arteriovenous malformation hemorrhage, he underwent surgery to remove the hematoma and began rehabilitation. On day 66 of hospitalization, he suddenly developed a fever, and coarse crackles and wheezes were heard in his right lung. A diagnosis of hospital-acquired aspiration pneumonia was made, and initial treatment with piperacillin/tazobactam was started. Teicoplanin was added after S. pneumoniae was isolated from the blood culture, however, the patient died 5 days later. The S. pneumoniae detected in the sputum smear was serotype 3, showed mucoid colonies and susceptibility to penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems, and levofloxacin, but resistance to erythromycin.

CONCLUSION: We experienced a fatal case of pneumonia caused by mucoid serotype 3 S. pneumoniae with a thick capsule. Serotype 3-associated pneumonia may develop a wider pulmonary infiltrative shadow, a prolonged therapeutic or hospitalization course, and a poor outcome. Careful observation and intervention are required, and the use of additional antibiotics or intravenous…

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