Abstract
Although Corynebacterium striatum is part of the human flora, it has recently drawn attention both for its multidrug resistance and its role as an invasive infection/outbreak agent. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the antimicrobial resistance and clonal relationships among C. striatum strains. In total, 81 C. striatum strains were identified using Phoenix-100TM (BD, Sparks, MD, USA). The antimicrobial resistance of the strains was determined using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method. Clonal relatedness among the strains was performed via arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR). All 81 C. striatum strains were resistant to penicillin, cefotaxime, ciprofloxacin, and tetracycline, but susceptible to vancomycin and linezolid. The resistance rates to gentamicin, erythromycin, and clindamycin were 34.6%, 79%, and 87.7% respectively. AP-PCR results showed no predominant clone among the C. striatum strains. Corynebacterium striatum is reportedly the cause of an increasing number of invasive infections/outbreaks. Moreover, treatment options are limited. The study showed that vancomycin, linezolid, and gentamicin can be selected for the empirical treatment of C. striatum infections. Although no single-clone outbreak was observed in our hospital, small clonal circulations were observed within some units, indicating cross-contamination. Therefore, a comprehensive infection control program is warranted in future.
Highlights
The Corynebacterium species are aerobic, non-spore-forming, club-shaped Gram-positive rods.They are ubiquitous in the environment and some species are commensal of normal human skin and mucous membranes
Only Corynebacterium diphtheriae was considered an infectious agent, whereas other Corynebacterium spp. were traditionally dismissed as contaminant bacteria when isolated from clinical specimens
We aimed to determine antimicrobial resistance profiles and molecular epidemiology of C. striatum isolated from inpatients at a tertiary hospital in Turkey
Summary
The Corynebacterium species (spp) are aerobic, non-spore-forming, club-shaped Gram-positive rods. They are ubiquitous in the environment (soil and water) and some species are commensal of normal human skin and mucous membranes. Only Corynebacterium diphtheriae was considered an infectious agent, whereas other Corynebacterium spp. were traditionally dismissed as contaminant bacteria when isolated from clinical specimens. Various non-diphtheriae Corynebacterium spp. have been increasingly reported as infectious agents in patients with long-term hospitalization, invasive intervention, and underlying diseases [2,3]. All medically relevant species in the Corynebacterium genus are catalase positive and nonmotile. They are divided into lipophilic and nonlipophilic as well as fermentative and nonfermentative.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
