AUTHOR=Li Ying , Zhu Ling , Yang Wei , You Chengdong 

TITLE=Bloodstream infection caused by coinfection of Actinomyces turicensis and Gemella morbillorum: a case report and literature review

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1626567

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2025.1626567

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=This CARE-guided report details a rare case of bloodstream infection caused by coinfection of Actinomyces turicensis and Gemella morbillorum in a 69-year-old male with diabetic foot. Actinomyces turicensis and Gemella morbillorum are an opportunistic pathogen that rarely causes human infection, while bloodstream infection is more rarely. They are tend to occur in immunocompromised individuals and are highly susceptible to mixed infections with other opportunistic pathogens. Actinomyces turicensis and Gemella morbillorum can cause invasive infections, including bloodstream infection, abscess, endocarditis and other infectious diseases. We reported a 69-year-old male with type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated by a chronic, neuropathic, right-first-toe ulcer (Wagner grade 4 with underlying osteomyelitis), presented with chills, fever, and foot pain. Cultures of blood and purulent secretions from the foot revealed a mixed infection that was predominantly caused by Actinomyces turicensis and Gemella morbillorum. After 9 days of treatment with antibiotics, the patient exhibited a satisfactory recovery and he was discharged from the hospital. Clinicians should pay attention to disseminated infections caused by Actinomyces turicensis and Gemella morbillorum. Timely microbiological examinations and accurate identification methods are conducive to early diagnosis. The prognosis is relatively favorable with appropriate antibiotics, lesion removal, and other therapeutic measures.