What are Gram-positive coccobacilli bacteremia?

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Last updated: May 3, 2025 • View editorial policy

From the Research

Gram-positive coccobacilli bacteremia is a serious infection that requires prompt treatment with intravenous antibiotics, and daptomycin is expected to be a better antimicrobial drug compared to vancomycin, as shown in a recent systematic review and meta-analysis 1.

Causes of Gram-Positive Coccobacilli Bacteremia

  • Listeria monocytogenes
  • Certain Corynebacterium species
  • Some Lactobacillus species ### Treatment of Gram-Positive Coccobacilli Bacteremia
  • Intravenous antibiotics such as ampicillin (2g IV every 4-6 hours) or vancomycin (15-20 mg/kg IV every 8-12 hours) for 10-14 days, depending on the specific organism identified and its antibiotic susceptibility
  • For Listeria bacteremia, ampicillin plus gentamicin (1 mg/kg every 8 hours) is often recommended
  • Daptomycin is a suitable alternative to vancomycin, especially in cases of vancomycin-resistant organisms 2 ### Diagnosis and Management
  • Blood cultures are essential for diagnosis and should be obtained before starting antibiotics
  • The source of infection should be identified and addressed, which may involve removing infected catheters or draining abscesses
  • Patients require close monitoring for complications such as endocarditis, meningitis, or septic shock
  • These infections can be particularly serious in immunocompromised patients, pregnant women, and the elderly, often requiring longer treatment courses and more aggressive management 3, 4

References

Research

Risk factors and management of Gram-positive bacteraemia.

International journal of antimicrobial agents, 2009

Research

Management of gram-positive coccal bacteremia and hemodialysis.

American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation, 2011

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