Leptotrichia buccalis: A rare cause of bacteraemia in non-neutropenic patients

Abstract

The anaerobic bacterium, Leptotrichia buccalis (Lb), belongs to the normal oral flora of humans and is seldom found in clinically significant specimens. However, on rare occasions, Lb has been isolated from blood cultures from patients with lesions of the oral mucosa, in particular from patients with neutropenia. Over a period of 6 months, Lb was isolated from blood cultures in our laboratory from 2 immunocompetent patients. The identification characteristics of Lb are described including the typical morphology at microscopy. Furthermore, we review the bacteraemic cases reported so far together with present knowledge of the pathogenicity and epidemiology of Lb.