Abstract
Kingella kingae is a Gram-negative coccobacilli and it is a member of the HACEK (Haemophilus species, Aggregatibacte actinomycetemcomitans, Cardiobacterium hominis, Eikenella corrodens, and K. kingae). HACEK organisms are typically oropharyngeal commensals and have long been recognized as a cause of infective endocarditis in children and adults. K. kingae in difficult to be recovered from cultured pharyngeal samples due to its slow growth and the high presence of resident bacterial flora, however, the organism can be better detected using PCR tests. Based on our search in PubMed and other sources, we couldn't discover any study about K. kingae originated from any Arab country. Therefore, we wrote this review to draw the attention of our physicians and clinical microbiologists on the importance of this neglected group of organisms in clinical medicine. However, this review article aims to cover the most important diseases of K. kingae in the pediatric population.
Highlights
This review will present and discuss the most important issues about the opportunistic Kingella kingae
Kingella kingae is a common opportunistic pathogen found in oropharynx of infants and young children aged between 6 months and 5 years [3,4]
This toxin is absent in the less virulent species K. oralis and K. denitrificans [12]
Summary
This review will present and discuss the most important issues about the opportunistic Kingella kingae This organism is not commonly detected and reported as causative agent of certain serious pediatric diseases in young children especially in the Arab region. Kingella kingae is a common opportunistic pathogen found in oropharynx of infants and young children aged between 6 months and 5 years [3,4] It can cause invasive pediatric infections associated with bacteremia, osteoarticular disease, endocarditis pneumonia, and meningitis [4,5]. All invasive K. kingae isolates secrete a soluble RTX exotoxin that is cytotoxic against a broad-range of host cells, including respiratory epithelial cells, synovial cells, and macrophage cell lines This toxin is absent in the less virulent species K. oralis and K. denitrificans [12]. It is well known that biofilms play a critical function in bacterial adherence and colonization and prevent host defence mechanisms in diseases such as chronic osteomyelitis and lung cystic fibrosis [12, 16]
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