Difficulty with Gordonia bronchialis identification by Microflex mass spectrometer in a pacemaker-induced endocarditis

Marie Titécat; Caroline Loïez; René J Courcol; Frédéric Wallet

doi:10.1099/jmmcr.0.003681

Difficulty with Gordonia bronchialis identification by Microflex mass spectrometer in a pacemaker-induced endocarditis

JMM Case Rep. 2014 Sep 1;1(3):e003681. doi: 10.1099/jmmcr.0.003681. eCollection 2014 Sep.

Authors

Marie Titécat^{1

2}, Caroline Loïez^{1

2}, René J Courcol^{1

2}, Frédéric Wallet^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Centre, Lille, France.
² University of Lille Nord de France, Lille, France.

Abstract

Introduction: This report describes the first case, to the best of our knowledge, of pacemaker-induced endocarditis due to Gordonia bronchialis.

Presentation: Pacemaker-induced endocarditis due to G. bronchialis infection was determined in a 92-year old man. This Gram-positive bacillus failed to be identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry technology, whereas the taxon was indexed in the database. 16S rRNA and rpoB gene sequencing were required to determine the correct strain identity.

Conclusion: Infections caused by G. bronchialis remain a rare phenomenon affecting immunocompromised patients and/or medical device carriers. Molecular tools may be necessary to ensure accurate identification.

Keywords: 16S rRNA; Gordonia bronchialis; MALDI‐TOF MS; endocarditis; pacemaker; rpoB sequencing.