Pediococcus spp

• P. acidilactici
• P. pentosaceus

Gram Stain

• Gram positive cocci in pairs, tetrads and clusters (aerobic)

Clinical Significance

These organisms are found in a variety of food and plant sources and may be found in the gastrointestinal tract.

They have been associated with bacteremia, endocarditis, hepatic abscesses, appendicitis, and medical device-related infections in immunocompromised or debilitated (malignancy/diabetes/extensive surgery) patients.

Indwelling devices and previous broad spectrum antibiotics (especially vancomycin) are risk factors.

Usual Susceptibility Pattern

These organisms are resistant to vancomycin, tetracyclines, and quinolones.

They exhibit decreased susceptibility to cephalosporins (especially 3rd generation).  They are usually susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin, clindamycin, macrolides, linezolid, daptomycin, and rifampin.

Carbapenem resistance has been described - imipenem has better activity than meropenem.