Corynebacterium striatum as an emerging pathogen

Abstract

Corynebacterium striatum, previously considered a saprophyte on skin and nasal mucosa, is increasingly recognised as a potential pathogen in both immunocompromised and normal hosts. 1 Lee P.P. Ferguson Jr., D.A. Sarubbi F.A. Corynebacterium striatum: an underappreciated community and nosocomial pathogen. J Infect. 2005; 50: 338-343 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (61) Google Scholar We studied a cluster of C. striatum isolates from patients in a 110 bed subacute respiratory care centre. Between January 2006 and June 2007, 23 clinical isolates of C. striatum from 17 patients were identified by Gram staining, colonial morphology and the API Coryne system. Another commercial kit, RapID CB Plus, was used when necessary. When results from the API Coryne system and the RapID CB Plus did not concur, the organism was reported as Corynebacterium sp. and was not included in our analysis. Minimum inhibitory concentration for penicillin carried out using E-test and that for erythromycin, levofloxacin and vancomycin was performed using disc diffusion method. We defined C. striatum as a pathogen when Gram staining of the specimen showed abundant organisms with neutrophils and a pure growth in culture, together with clinical and radiological evidence of infection. In nine patients, C. striatum was responsible for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), empyema, pneumonia or acute bronchitis. With regard to C. striatum bronchitis, patients were required to have two of the following: (i) fever; (ii) increased sputum volume or purulence; (iii) newly developed or worsening hypoxaemia. Only half of those patients who received antibiotics active against the bacterium survived the infection.