Patrick DJ Sturm, Adri GM van der Zanden, J Heemskerk
A patient with an abscess caused by Lawsonella clevelandensis is presented. L. clevelandensis was isolated only after prolonged incubation which was done because the Gram-stain was positive for actinomyces-like bacteria. L. clevelandensis was recently discovered and is part of the commensal flora of the skin. Infections have been rarely described but are probably more common since diagnosis using routine microbiology methods is hampered by poor staining and slow growth. The study describes the difficult microbiological diagnosis of an infection with L. clevelandensis.