Catabacter hongkongensis is a recently recognised anaerobic gram positive bacillus. We report the isolation of a C. hongkongensis strain that does not utilise mannose, a novel phenotype, from the blood cultures of a patient with a perforated appendix. The isolate was identified by 16s rRNA gene sequencing. This case highlights the difficulties with phenotypic identification of rare anaerobic isolates. It also illustrates the association of C. hongkongensis bacteraemia with a gastrointestinal source and intestinal perforation.
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