''Veillonella parvula'' is a strictly anaerobic, Gram-negative, coccus-shaped bacterium in the genus ''
Veillonella
''Veillonella'' are Gram-negative bacteria (Gram stain pink) anaerobic cocci, unlike most Bacillota, which are Gram-positive bacteria. This bacterium is well known for its lactate fermenting abilities. It is a normal bacterium in the intestine ...
''. It is a normal part of the oral flora but can be associated with diseases such as periodontitis and dental caries as well as various systemic infections, including meningitis and osteomyelitis. It has also been isolated from women with
bacterial vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a disease of the vagina caused by excessive growth of bacteria. Common symptoms include increased vaginal discharge that often smells like fish. The discharge is usually white or gray in color. Burning with urination ...
and has been associated with
hypertension
Hypertension (HTN or HT), also known as high blood pressure (HBP), is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated. High blood pressure usually does not cause symptoms. Long-term high bl ...
together with ''
Campylobacter rectus
''Campylobacter rectus'' is a species of '' Campylobacter''. It is implicated as a pathogen in chronic periodontitis, which can induce bone loss. This motile bacillus is a Gram negative, facultative anaerobe. ''C. rectus'' is associated with hyp ...
'' and ''
Prevotella melaninogenica
''Prevotella melaninogenica'' is a species of bacterium in the normal microbiota of the upper respiratory tract. It is an important human pathogen in various anaerobic infections, often mixed with other aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. ''P. melan ...
''.
''V. parvula'' is unable to feed on carbohydrates, but can feed on lactate provided by ''
Streptococcus
''Streptococcus'' is a genus of gram-positive ' (plural ) or spherical bacteria that belongs to the family Streptococcaceae, within the order Lactobacillales (lactic acid bacteria), in the phylum Bacillota. Cell division in streptococci occurs ...
'' species also found in the oral cavity.
Specifically, ''
Streptococcus mutans
''Streptococcus mutans'' is a facultatively anaerobic, gram-positive coccus (round bacterium) commonly found in the human oral cavity and is a significant contributor to tooth decay.
It is part of the " streptococci" (plural, non-italic lowercase ...
'' and ''V. parvula'' can form multispecies biofilms that lead to a lower susceptibility to antimicrobial treatments, resulting in periodontitis and dental carries.
Antimicrobial susceptibility
''V. parvula'' bacteria are susceptible to and typically treated with
metronidazole
Metronidazole, sold under the brand name Flagyl among others, is an antibiotic and antiprotozoal medication. It is used either alone or with other antibiotics to treat pelvic inflammatory disease, endocarditis, and bacterial vaginosis. It i ...
and
penicillin
Penicillins (P, PCN or PEN) are a group of β-lactam antibiotics originally obtained from ''Penicillium'' moulds, principally '' P. chrysogenum'' and '' P. rubens''. Most penicillins in clinical use are synthesised by P. chrysogenum using ...
in clinical reports.
Other antibiotics that have been shown to be active against ''V. parvula'' include
cephalosporin
The cephalosporins (sg. ) are a class of β-lactam antibiotics originally derived from the fungus ''Acremonium'', which was previously known as ''Cephalosporium''.
Together with cephamycins, they constitute a subgroup of β-lactam antibiotics ...
,
clindamycin
Clindamycin is an antibiotic medication used for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections, including osteomyelitis (bone) or joint infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, strep throat, pneumonia, acute otitis media (middle ear infec ...
, and
chloramphenicol
Chloramphenicol is an antibiotic useful for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections. This includes use as an eye ointment to treat conjunctivitis. By mouth or by injection into a vein, it is used to treat meningitis, plague, cholera, a ...
.
Antibiotic-resistance
There have been several reports of antibiotic resistance in ''V. parvula'' isolates in different countries.
In Greece, ''V. parvula'' isolates were found to be somewhat resistant to penicillin,
ampicillin
Ampicillin is an antibiotic used to prevent and treat a number of bacterial infections, such as respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, meningitis, salmonellosis, and endocarditis. It may also be used to prevent group B strepto ...
,
piperacillin/tazobactam
Piperacillin/tazobactam, sold under the brand name Zosyn among others, is a combination medication containing the antibiotic piperacillin and the β-lactamase inhibitor
Beta-lactamases, (β-lactamases) are enzymes () produced by bacteri ...
, clindamycin, and
moxifloxacin
Moxifloxacin is an antibiotic, used to treat bacterial infections, including pneumonia, conjunctivitis, endocarditis, tuberculosis, and sinusitis. It can be given by mouth, by injection into a vein, and as an eye drop.
Common side effects in ...
, with no reported resistance to metronidazole.
In Taiwan, ''V. parvula'' isolates were found to be resistant against metronidazole.
These findings represent the growing issue of antibiotic resistance worldwide.
References
Further reading
External links
Type strain of ''Veillonella parvula'' at Bac''Dive'' - the Bacterial Diversity Metadatabase
Veillonellaceae
Inflammatory diseases of female pelvic organs
Reproductive system
Gynaecology
Sexual health
Bacterial vaginosis
Bacteria described in 1898
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