Lisbeth Lützen1, Bente Olesen2, Marianne Voldstedlund3, Jens J Christensen4, Claus Moser5, Jenny D Knudsen6, Kurt Fuursted7, Gitte N Hartmeyer8, Ming Chen9, Turid S Søndergaard10, Flemming S Rosenvinge11, Esad Dzajic12, Henrik C Schønheyder13, Niels Nørskov-Lauritsen14. 1. Department of Clinical Microbiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Herlev Ringvej 75, 2730 Herlev, Denmark; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Hobrovej 18-22, 9100 Aalborg, Denmark. Electronic address: lilutz@rm.dk. 2. Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Herlev Ringvej 75, 2730 Herlev, Denmark. Electronic address: bente.ruth.scharvik.olesen@regionh.dk. 3. Infectious Disease Preparedness, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, 2300 København S, Denmark. Electronic address: mav@ssi.dk. 4. Department of Clinical Microbiology, Slagelse Hospital, Ingemannsvej 18, 4200 Slagelse, Denmark. Electronic address: jejc@regionsjaelland.dk. 5. Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 København Ø, Denmark. Electronic address: claus.moser@regionh.dk. 6. Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre Hospital, Kettegård Alle 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark. Electronic address: inge.jenny.dahl.knudsen@regionh.dk. 7. Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, 2300 København S, Denmark. Electronic address: kfu@ssi.dk. 8. Department of Clinical Microbiology, Odense University Hospital, Søndre Boulevard 29, 5000 Odense, Denmark. Electronic address: gitte.hartmeyer@rsyd.dk. 9. Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital of Southern Jutland, Sydvang 1, 6400 Sønderborg, Denmark. Electronic address: ming.chen@rsyd.dk. 10. Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital of Southern Jutland, Sydvang 1, 6400 Sønderborg, Denmark; Department of Microbiology, Hospitalsenheden Midt-Vest, Viborg/Herning, Heibergs Alle 4, 8800 Viborg, Denmark. Electronic address: turid.snekloth.sondergaard@rsyd.dk. 11. Department of Clinical Microbiology, Odense University Hospital, Søndre Boulevard 29, 5000 Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Sygehus Lillebælt Vejle Sygehus, Beriderbakken 4, 7100 Vejle, Denmark. Electronic address: flemming.rosenvinge@rsyd.dk. 12. Department of Clinical Microbiology, Sydvestjysk Sygehus Esbjerg, Finsensgade 35, 6700 Esbjerg, Denmark. Electronic address: esad.dzajic@rsyd.dk. 13. Department of Clinical Microbiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Hobrovej 18-22, 9100 Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 5, 9100 Aalborg, Denmark. Electronic address: hcs@rn.dk. 14. Department of Clinical Microbiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark. Electronic address: nielnoer@rm.dk.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Bacteria with common microbiological and clinical characteristics are often recognized as a particular group. The acronym HACEK stands for five fastidious genera associated with infective endocarditis (Haemophilus, Aggregatibacter, Cardiobacterium, Eikenella, and Kingella). Data on the epidemiology of HACEK are sparse. This article reports a 6-year nationwide study of HACEK bacteraemia in Denmark. METHODS: Cases of HACEK bacteraemia occurring during the years 2010-2015 were retrieved from the national Danish microbiology database, covering an average surveillance population of 5.6 million per year. RESULTS: A total of 147 cases of HACEK bacteraemia were identified, corresponding to an annual incidence of 0.44 per 100000 population. The annual incidence for males was 0.56 per 100000 and for females was 0.31 per 100000. The median age was 56 years (range 0-97 years), with variation among the genera. One hundred and forty-three isolates were identified to the species level and six to the genus level: Haemophilus spp, n=55; Aggregatibacter spp, n=37; Cardiobacterium spp, n=9; Eikenella corrodens n=21; and Kingella spp, n=27. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study on the incidence of HACEK bacteraemia in a large surveillance population and may inspire further studies on the HACEK group. Haemophilus spp other than Haemophilus influenzae accounted for most cases of HACEK bacteraemia in Denmark, with Aggregatibacter spp in second place.
OBJECTIVES: Bacteria with common microbiological and clinical characteristics are often recognized as a particular group. The acronym HACEK stands for five fastidious genera associated with infective endocarditis (Haemophilus, Aggregatibacter, Cardiobacterium, Eikenella, and Kingella). Data on the epidemiology of HACEK are sparse. This article reports a 6-year nationwide study of HACEK bacteraemia in Denmark. METHODS: Cases of HACEK bacteraemia occurring during the years 2010-2015 were retrieved from the national Danish microbiology database, covering an average surveillance population of 5.6 million per year. RESULTS: A total of 147 cases of HACEK bacteraemia were identified, corresponding to an annual incidence of 0.44 per 100000 population. The annual incidence for males was 0.56 per 100000 and for females was 0.31 per 100000. The median age was 56 years (range 0-97 years), with variation among the genera. One hundred and forty-three isolates were identified to the species level and six to the genus level: Haemophilus spp, n=55; Aggregatibacter spp, n=37; Cardiobacterium spp, n=9; Eikenella corrodens n=21; and Kingella spp, n=27. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study on the incidence of HACEK bacteraemia in a large surveillance population and may inspire further studies on the HACEK group. Haemophilus spp other than Haemophilus influenzae accounted for most cases of HACEK bacteraemia in Denmark, with Aggregatibacter spp in second place.
Authors: Anna Bläckberg; Christian Morenius; Lars Olaison; Andreas Berge; Magnus Rasmussen Journal: Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis Date: 2021-04-14 Impact factor: 3.267