Case of infant invasive Streptococcus intermedius infection suggesting the need for anaerobic cultures.

Abstract We report the case of an immunocompetent 6-month-old boy with a lung abscess and empyema caused by Streptococcus intermedius detected only from anaerobic cultures. Invasive S. intermedius infection in infants is rare. S. intermedius has been infrequently reported as a causative microorganism of lung abscess and empyema as most of the S. intermedius infections in children have been head and neck infections. While anaerobic cultures are often not performed for infant patients, we suggest the need for these cultures, including blood cultures, especially in cases of pediatric empyema, brain abscess, and liver abscess, which can be caused by S. intermedius.