Isolation of Bacillus licheniformis from a brain abscess following a penetrating orbital injury

Pacemaker lead infection and related bacteraemia caused by normal and small colony variant phenotypes of Bacillus licheniformis

Here, we report what we believe to be the first case of bacteraemia with small colony variants of Bacillus licheniformis related to a pacemaker lead infection by B. licheniformis displaying the normal phenotype. Arbitrarily primed PCR analysis showed a clonal strain. The infection was cured after the removal of the infected device.

Spore-forming Bacilli and Clostridia in human disease

Many Gram-positive spore-forming bacteria in the Firmicute phylum are important members of the human commensal microbiota, which, in rare cases, cause opportunistic infections. Other spore-formers, however, have evolved to become dedicated pathogens that can cause a striking variety of diseases. Despite variations in disease presentation, the etiologic agent is often the spore, with bacterially produced toxins playing a central role in the pathophysiology of infection. This review will focus on the specific diseases caused by spores of the Clostridia and Bacilli.

In vitro activities of daptomycin, ciprofloxacin, and other antimicrobial agents against the cells and spores of clinical isolates of Bacillus species

Daptomycin inhibited 67 of 70 clinical isolates of Bacillus species at < or =1 microg/ml and 100% of them at < or =2 microg/ml. It showed bactericidal activity similar to that of ciprofloxacin against vegetative cells but not against spores. For 2 strains, the ciprofloxacin MICs were >4 g/ml, and 10 strains were resistant to erythromycin.

Bacillus licheniformis prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis

A 73-year old man developed an acute prosthetic aortic valve dehiscence for which emergent operation was undertaken. The intraoperative evidence of an aortic annular disruption and of a subannular abscess led to the hypothesis that an endocarditis process was involved. The aortic valve was replaced with a stentless porcine bioprosthesis. Cultures taken intraoperatively from the aortic area had a pure growth of aerobic, spore-forming, gram-positive bacilli identified as Bacillus licheniformis. The patient responded to specific antibiotic therapy with no relapse at a 20-month follow-up. The potentiality of B. licheniformis as a pathogen should be reconsidered.

Brain abscess due to Bacillus macerans following a penetrating periorbital injury

We report a case of a brain abscess due to Bacillus macerans and Clostridium sp. following a penetrating periorbital injury by a wooden branch. Intracranial penetration by and retention of a foreign body were not suspected initially, and neurological symptoms developed only 2.5 months later. Previously reported cases of brain abscesses due to Bacillus species are reviewed.