Urinary Tract Infection in a Preterm Neonate Caused by Lactococcus lactis.

Bacteria of the genus Lactococcus are commonly used in manufacturing dairy products.1This genus of bacteria is also being investigated for use in the biotechnology industry, as a delivery system for vaccines and other therapies.1 It is rarely considered pathogenic in humans, although several cases of clinically significant Lactococcus infection have been reported. In adults, these infections have included endocarditis, liver abscess, peritonitis, pneumonitis, spondylodiscitis, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, sepsis, deep neck infection, and brain abscess.2-4 Among pediatric patients, a few cases have been reported, including brain abscess in a 19-month-old child,4 catheter-related bacteremia in a 9-month-old infant,5 and meningitis and septicemia in a 16-day-old neonate.3 This article describes a preterm neonate who experienced a urinary tract infection caused by Lactococcus lactis.