Title:Nutritionally Variant Streptococci - Its Clinical Relevance and Treatment
Options: A Mini-Review
Volume: 21
Issue: 3
Author(s): Ronni Mol Joji, Shahad Said Alsharji, Shahad Abdullah Alkiyumi, Kothar Ali Alsakiti, Mohd Shadab, Ali Al Mahmeed and Mohammad Shahid*
Affiliation:
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences,
Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain
Keywords:
Nutritionally variant streptococci, fastidious, endocarditis, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, Granulicatella, Abiotrophia.
Abstract:
Nutritionally variant streptococci (NVS) were assumed to be nutritional mutants of
the viridans group of streptococci, but they are now considered as other Streptococcus species.
Due to their difficult nature, to date, the detection and treatment of NVS are challenging.
This review aims at a compilation of a comprehensive study on literature reporting the
microbiological characteristics of NVS species, their detection, and treatment strategies with an
emphasis on large-scale research experimentations.
According to the literature, the classification of these Streptococci has changed several times,
interpreting the scientific literature of Abiotrophia and Granulicatella spp. NVS strains exhibit
pleomorphic cellular morphologies, and they can be distinguished from other streptococci by
their biochemical reactions and molecular tests. They have been isolated from clinical specimens
including pus, synovial fluid, and blood, in addition to their involvement in endocarditis.
Treatment of NVS is challenging due to its difficult nature and the complexity of antimicrobial
susceptibility testing.
Early diagnosis is critical for initiating proper therapy and avoiding fatal consequences.
Microbiologists and clinicians ought to be cautious of these isolates, which are easy to overlook
due to their difficult nature and the challenges in retrieving from clinical samples. Hence largescale
research is required to identify additional detection techniques, infrastructure, and
treatment options.