From the Research
Rothia mucilaginosa is a gram-positive bacterium that requires prompt treatment with vancomycin as the primary antibiotic, especially in immunocompromised patients, due to its potential to cause severe infections such as meningitis, bacteremia, and septic arthritis. The treatment of Rothia mucilaginosa infections typically involves antibiotics, with vancomycin being the preferred choice, as evidenced by a study published in 2021 1. This study highlighted the effectiveness of vancomycin in treating a case of meningitis caused by Rothia mucilaginosa in a child with myelodysplastic syndromes. Some key points to consider when treating Rothia mucilaginosa infections include:
- The importance of prompt treatment, especially in immunocompromised patients, to prevent severe complications and improve outcomes 1, 2, 3
- The use of vancomycin as the primary antibiotic, due to its effectiveness against Rothia mucilaginosa and its low minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) 1
- The potential for combination therapy, including gentamicin alongside a beta-lactam antibiotic, in severe cases or when the patient's condition does not improve with single antibiotic therapy 2, 3
- The need for proper oral hygiene to prevent Rothia-related infections, as the mouth serves as the primary reservoir for this organism 1, 4, 5
- The importance of considering Rothia mucilaginosa as a potential pathogen in immunocompetent patients, as evidenced by a case report of bacteremia in an immunocompetent pediatric patient 4.