Facklamia

Background

Microbiology

• Genus of Gram-positive cocci in chains or diplococci (or for F. languida, in clusters)
• Previously would have been identified as a viridans group streptococcus
• Includes five species:
  • Facklamia hominis
  • Facklamia ignava
  • Facklamia languida
  • Facklamia sourekii
  • Faklamia tabacinasalis
• Often isolated from animal specimens, although some think that it may be human flora of vagina, skin, or gut

Clinical Presentation

• Rare opportunistic pathogen primarily presenting with bacteremia
• Often of unclear clinical significance (that is, whether it is a true pathogen or contaminant)
• Case reports of vaginitis, wound infection, abscess, meningitis, and osteomyelitis

Management

• Similar to viridans groups streptococci
• Often susceptible to penicillins and cephalosporins, but not always (20 to 50% resistance)

Further Reading

• Antimicrobial Susceptibilities and Clinical Sources of Facklamia Species. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2000;44(8):2130-2132. doi: 10.1128/aac.44.8.2130-2132.2000