data/rag/knowledge_base/Cardiobacterium/genus.json

{
  "schema_version": "1.0",
  "level": "genus",
  "genus": "Cardiobacterium",

  "overview": {
    "short": "Cardiobacterium species are Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic rods belonging to the HACEK group of organisms.",
    "clinical_context": "Primarily associated with subacute infective endocarditis, often in patients with underlying valvular disease."
  },

  "expected_fields": {
    "Gram Stain": "Negative",
    "Shape": "Rods",
    "Motility": "Negative",
    "Capsule": "Negative",
    "Spore Formation": "Negative",
    "Haemolysis": "Negative",
    "Haemolysis Type": "None",
    "Media Grown On": [
      "Blood Agar",
      "Chocolate Agar"
    ],
    "Colony Morphology": [
      "Small",
      "Smooth",
      "Grey"
    ],
    "Oxygen Requirement": "Facultative Anaerobe",
    "Growth Temperature": "35//37",
    "Catalase": "Negative",
    "Oxidase": "Positive",
    "Indole": "Positive",
    "Urease": "Negative",
    "Citrate": "Negative",
    "Methyl Red": "Negative",
    "VP": "Negative",
    "H2S": "Negative",
    "DNase": "Negative",
    "ONPG": "Negative",
    "Coagulase": "Negative",
    "Gelatin Hydrolysis": "Negative",
    "Esculin Hydrolysis": "Negative",
    "Nitrate Reduction": "Negative",
    "NaCl Tolerant (>=6%)": "Negative",
    "Lipase Test": "Negative",
    "Lysine Decarboxylase": "Negative",
    "Ornithine Decarboxylase": "Negative",
    "Ornitihine Decarboxylase": "Negative",
    "Arginine dihydrolase": "Negative",
    "Glucose Fermentation": "Positive",
    "Lactose Fermentation": "Negative",
    "Sucrose Fermentation": "Negative",
    "Maltose Fermentation": "Negative",
    "Mannitol Fermentation": "Negative",
    "Sorbitol Fermentation": "Negative",
    "Xylose Fermentation": "Negative",
    "Rhamnose Fermentation": "Negative",
    "Arabinose Fermentation": "Negative",
    "Raffinose Fermentation": "Negative",
    "Trehalose Fermentation": "Negative",
    "Inositol Fermentation": "Negative",
    "Gas Production": "Negative",
    "TSI Pattern": "Unknown",
    "Colony Pattern": "Unknown",
    "Pigment": "None",
    "Motility Type": "None"
  },

  "field_notes": {
    "Oxidase": "Consistently positive, supporting differentiation from many Enterobacterales.",
    "Indole": "Positive reaction is characteristic of the genus.",
    "Growth": "Slow-growing organism; colonies may take several days to appear."
  },

  "key_differentiators": [
    {
      "field": "Oxidase",
      "expected": "Positive",
      "distinguishes_from": ["Enterobacter", "Escherichia"],
      "notes": "Oxidase positivity helps separate Cardiobacterium from Enterobacterales."
    },
    {
      "field": "Indole",
      "expected": "Positive",
      "distinguishes_from": ["Aggregatibacter"],
      "notes": "Indole positivity supports Cardiobacterium within the HACEK group."
    }
  ],

  "common_confusions": [
    {
      "genus": "Aggregatibacter",
      "reason": "Both are HACEK organisms with similar clinical presentations."
    },
    {
      "genus": "Kingella",
      "reason": "Shared fastidious growth and Gram-negative rod morphology."
    }
  ],

  "when_to_question_identification": [
    "Oxidase-negative isolate.",
    "Rapid growth on routine media.",
    "Absence of indole production."
  ],

  "recommended_next_tests": [
    {
      "test": "Oxidase test",
      "reason": "Confirms oxidase positivity typical of Cardiobacterium.",
      "api_kit": "API NH"
    },
    {
      "test": "Indole test",
      "reason": "Supports genus-level identification.",
      "api_kit": "API NH"
    },
    {
      "test": "MALDI-TOF MS",
      "reason": "Definitive identification of fastidious HACEK organisms."
    }
  ],

  "supported_species": [
    "hominis",
    "valvarum"
  ]
}