Infections by Alloscardovia omnicolens and Associated Clinical Conditions: A Systematic Review

Background and Aim: Alloscardovia omnicolens is a gram-positive, non-motile, non-sporulating bacillus that is occasionally identified as a member of the human microbiota. Despite its infrequent colonization of humans, it has been detected in various anatomical sites, including the gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, vaginal mucosa, and oral cavity, and has the potential to cause opportunistic infections. This systematic literature review aims to analyze the pathogenic potential of A. omnicolens and the underlying clinical conditions associated with infection.

Methods: A systematic review of scientific manuscripts was conducted using the PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar databases. The search terms employed included "Alloscardovia omnicolens," "infection" "culture," and "identification". Manuscripts published in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French from 2007 to 2023 were considered for review.

Results: Following the bibliographic selection process, a total of five articles discussing Alloscardovia omnicolens infections were included, along with an additional thirty-six articles for analytical support.

Conclusion: Infections caused by Alloscardovia omnicolens are infrequent and are predominantly associated with underlying medical conditions. The detection of this bacterium in cultures of organic specimens from patients, particularly those with neoplastic diseases, warrants clinical attention when patients are in critical health states or exhibit risk factors for opportunistic infections. Given the antibiotic susceptibility profiles of the prevailing strains of Alloscardovia omnicolens, we recommend the use of narrow-spectrum antibiotics for treatment in these cases, with the exception of Metronidazole. This approach can effectively eliminate Alloscardovia omnicolens while minimally impacting the broader human microbiota composition.