Characterizing <i>Actinotignum schaalii</i> infections in a large Canadian healthcare region.

<b>Aims:</b> We characterize the epidemiology of <i>Actinotignum schaalii</i> within a large Canadian region after implementation of improved identification methods. <b>Patients &amp; methods:</b> Positive cultures for <i>A. schaalii</i> from a centralized microbiology laboratory in Canada were analyzed. Clinical data were retrieved through administrative databases and chart reviews. Primary outcome was incidence of <i>A. schaalii</i> infections; secondary outcomes included mortality, hospital admission and length of stay. <b>Results &amp; conclusions:</b> 86 unique isolates were studied, 37 bloodstream infections (BSI) and 49 non-BSIs. Patients with BSIs were older with more comorbidities, with urinary tract infections implicated as the most frequent source; skin abscesses caused the most non-BSIs. Hospitalization and 90-day mortality was higher in the BSI group. <i>A. schaalii</i> is an important community-acquired pathogen with the potential to cause invasive infections.