Kingella, which belong to the family Neisseriaceae, are short, nonmotile, gram-negative coccobacilli that occur in pairs or short chains. The organisms are slow-growing and fastidious. Kingella are recovered from the human oropharynx and are a rare cause of human disease.
Among Kingella species, Kingella kingae is the most frequent human pathogen; these organisms frequently colonize the mucous membranes of the oropharynx. Children aged 6 months to 4 years have the highest rates of colonization and invasive disease from this pathogen. K. kingae is transmitted from child to child through close personal contact (eg, at day care centers). Infection has a seasonal distribution, with more cases in fall and winter.
Diseases Caused by Kingella
The most common manifestations of K. kingae disease are
Skeletal infections (septic arthritis Acute Infectious Arthritis Acute infectious (septic) arthritis is a joint infection that evolves over hours or days. The infection resides in synovial or periarticular tissues and is usually bacterial—in younger adults... read more
, osteomyelitis Osteomyelitis Osteomyelitis is inflammation and destruction of bone caused by bacteria, mycobacteria, or fungi. Common symptoms are localized bone pain and tenderness with constitutional symptoms (in acute... read more 
)
Rare manifestations include pneumonia, epiglottitis, meningitis, abscesses, and ocular infections.
The most common skeletal infection is septic arthritis, which most frequently affects large, weight-bearing joints, especially the knee and ankle.
Osteomyelitis most frequently involves bones of the lower extremities. Onset is insidious, and diagnosis is often delayed. Hematogenous invasion of intervertebral disks (spondylodiscitis) can occur, most commonly in the lumbar intervertebral spaces.
Kingella endocarditis has been reported in all age groups, but it is rare in adults. Endocarditis may involve native or prosthetic valves. Kingella is a component of the so-called HACEK HACEK Infections The HACEK group (Haemophilus species, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Cardiobacterium hominis, Eikenella corrodens, Kingella kingae) includes weakly... read more group (Haemophilus species, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Cardiobacterium hominis, Eikenella corrodens, Kingella kingae), which includes fastidious gram-negative bacteria capable of causing endocarditis.
Diagnosis of Kingella infections requires laboratory isolation from fluids or tissues thought to be infected.
Treatment of Kingella Infections
A penicillin or cephalosporin
Kingella organisms are generally susceptible to various penicillins and cephalosporins. However, antimicrobial susceptibility testing is needed to guide therapy. Other useful drugs include aminoglycosides, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, tetracyclines, erythromycin, and fluoroquinolones.
Drugs Mentioned In This Article
| Drug Name | Select Trade |
|---|---|
trimethoprim |
Primsol, Proloprim, TRIMPEX |
erythromycin |
A/T/S, Akne-mycin, E.E.S., Emcin Clear , EMGEL, E-Mycin, ERYC, Erycette, Eryderm , Erygel, Erymax, EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythra Derm , Erythrocin, Erythrocin Lactobionate, Erythrocin Stearate, Ilosone, Ilotycin, My-E, PCE, PCE Dispertab , Romycin, Staticin, T-Stat |
