Bacteremia due to Gemella morbillorum

Abstract

Gemella morbillorum, previously known as Streptococcus morbillorum was reclassified into the genus Gemella in 1988 on the basis of DNA hybridization(1). Human infections caused by G. morbillorum are rare. The cases reported are predominantly endovascular infections(2) but acute invasive infections due to this bacterium, such as septic arthritis(3) and meningitis(4) have only recently been recognized. Reported cases of G. morbillorum infection have rarely affected children. We report a case of bacteremia caused by G. morbillorum in a child with neuro-blastoma. This is believed to be the first reported case of infection with this organism in a child from the Indian sub-continent.