Actinobaculum bacteremia: a report of 12 cases.

Actinobaculum species are anaerobic Gram-positive rods that have previously been associated with urinary tract infection (UTI) in the elderly. We report 12 patients with Actinobaculum bacteremia. Only 40% of blood cultures were clinically considered significant by the treating physicians, but most patients were treated for UTI, suggesting a possible urinary source of bacteremia. Clinicians should be aware of the pathogenic potential of Actinobaculum spp.