Clinical Characteristics and Outcome of Lung Transplant Recipients with Respiratory Isolation of Corynebacterium spp.

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Although chronic respiratory disease and immunosuppression are risk factors for Corynebacterium species respiratory infection, data are scarce regarding this disease in lung transplantation. Our aim was to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of lung transplant recipients (LTR) with respiratory isolation of Corynebacterium spp. This was a retrospective observational study performed at a referral center in Barcelona, Spain (2014 to 2016). We included all LTR in whom Corynebacterium spp. were isolated in at least one good-quality lower respiratory tract specimen. Overall, 24 of 527 (4.6%) LTR at risk during the study period were included. The main epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological data were analyzed. The most frequently isolated species were C. striatum (11/24), C. pseudodiphtheriticum (3/24), and C. amycolatum (3/24). All 19 (76%) patients who underwent bronchoscopy showed abnormalities, mainly mucosal plaques at the bronchial suture and purulent secretions. Clinical cure was achieved in 8/12 (67%) patients who fulfilled the CDC definition of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). To assess the clinical relevance of Corynebacterium spp., only patients with monomicrobial isolation (n = 18) were evaluated. LRTI was diagnosed in 9, and a nonsignificant association was found with a significant number of Corynebacterium sp. CFU/ml (7/9 LRTI versus 2/9 non-LRTI, P = 0.057). Persistent infection was associated with metallic bronchial stent implantation (4/4 versus 2/14, P = 0.005). The isolation of Corynebacterium spp. in respiratory specimens of lung transplant recipients may herald a respiratory tract infection or bronchial suture damage. Bronchial stent implantation is a risk factor for the persistence of Corynebacterium species infection.