Isolation of Helcococcus kunzii from a post-surgical foot abscess.

We report here a case in which a strain of Helcococcus kunzii was isolated from a foot abscess, in an immunocompetent patient, after surgery for metatarsal fracture. Correct species identification of the strain was readily obtained on the basis of morphological and biochemical features, together with 16S rRNA analysis. This case demonstrates that this species should be considered a potential pathogen in patients with no underlying disease.