Case Series of Cutaneous Rothia Mucilaginosa Infection and an Important Potential Pitfall Case.
Volha Lenskaya, Audrey Liu, Priyadharsini Nagarajan et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
Three immunocompromised patients with hematolymphoid malignancies and profound neutropenia presented with suspected cutaneous infections caused by Rothia mucilaginosa. Histopathological examination revealed small, round eosinophilic coccoid structures within vascular spaces and the papillary dermis. One patient experienced culture-proven bacteremia leading to systemic sepsis and a fatal outcome. The cases underscore the diagnostic challenges posed by this organism's morphology.
What made this case unusual
A notable diagnostic pitfall was identified where platelet aggregates mimicked the morphology of R. mucilaginosa, complicating accurate diagnosis.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should consider Rothia mucilaginosa in the differential diagnosis of cutaneous infections in immunocompromised patients, particularly given its ambiguous histological features.
Why it matters
Awareness of the potential for misinterpretation due to overlapping morphology with platelet aggregates can enhance diagnostic accuracy and patient management.