Retrospective evaluation of the clinical characteristics associated with Corynebacterium species bacteremia

ABSTRACT Objectives: Corynebacterium spp. are becoming recognized as pathogens that potentially cause various infections. We aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics associated with Corynebacterium spp. bacteremia. Patients and methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all adult patients who had positive blood cultures for Corynebacterium spp. in a single university hospital between January 2014 and December 2016. Patients were divided into a bacteremia group and a contamination group based on microbiological test results and clinical characteristics. Patients' characteristics, antimicrobial susceptibility of isolated species, antimicrobials administered, and patient outcomes were evaluated. Results: Corynebacterium spp. were isolated from blood samples of 63 patients; Corynebacterium striatum was the predominant isolate. Twenty-eight patients were determined to have bacteremia. Younger age (p = 0.023), shorter time to positivity (p = 0.006), longer hospital stay (p = 0.009), and presence of an indwelling vascular catheter (p = 0.002) were observed more often in the bacteremia group compared to the contamination group. The source of infection in most patients with bacteremia was an intravenous catheter. All tested strains were susceptible to vancomycin. Four of the 27 patients with bacteremia died, despite administration of appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Conclusions: We found that younger age, shorter time to positivity, and presence of an indwelling catheter were related to bacteremia caused by Corynebacterium spp. Appropriate antimicrobials should be administered once Corynebacterium spp. are isolated from the blood and bacteremia is suspected.

Clonal multidrug-resistant Corynebacterium striatum within a nosocomial environment, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Corynebacterium striatum is a potentially pathogenic microorganism with the ability to produce outbreaks of nosocomial infections. Here, we document a nosocomial outbreak caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) C. striatum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. C. striatum identification was confirmed by 16S rRNA and rpoB gene sequencing. Fifteen C. striatum strains were isolated from adults (half of whom were 50 years of age and older). C. striatum was mostly isolated in pure culture from tracheal aspirates of patients undergoing endotracheal intubation procedures. The analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) indicated the presence of four PFGE profiles, including two related clones of MDR strains (PFGE I and II). The data demonstrated the predominance of PFGE type I, comprising 11 MDR isolates that were mostly isolated from intensive care units and surgical wards. A potential causal link between death and MDR C. striatum (PFGE types I and II) infection was observed in five cases.

Isolation, speciation, and antibiogram of clinically relevant non-diphtherial Corynebacteria (Diphtheroids).

Purpose: Coryneform or the non-diphtherial Corynebacterium species largely remains a neglected group with the traditional consideration of these organisms as contaminants. This concept, however, is slowly changing in the light of recent observations. This study has been done to find out the species distribution and antibiogram of various members of the clinically relevant Coryneform group, isolated from various clinical materials. Materials and Methods: One hundred and fourteen non-duplicate isolates of diphtheroids from various clinical isolates were selected for the study. The isolates were identified to the species level by using a battery of tests; and antimicrobial susceptibility was tested by using a combination of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC) guidelines, in the absence of definitive CLSI guidelines. Results: Corynebacterium amycolatum was the predominant species (35.9%) in our series followed by the CDC Group G organisms (15.7%). Each of the remaining 19 species comprised of less than 10% of the isolates. More than half the total isolates were resistant to the penicillins, erythromycin, and clindamycin; while excellent activity (all the strains being susceptible) was shown by vancomycin, linezolid, and tigecycline. Chloramphenicol and tetracycline also had good activity in inhibiting more than 80% of the isolates. Multiply drug resistance was exhibited by all the species. Conclusion: This study was an attempt to establish the clinical significance of coryneform organisms. The high level of resistance shown by this group to some of the common antibacterial agents highlights the importance of processing these isolates in select conditions to guide the clinicians towards an appropriate therapy.

Bacteremia Caused by Corynebacterium amycolatum with a Novel Mutation in gyrA Gene that Confers High-Level Quinolone Resistance / 대한진단검사의학회지

Although Corynebacterium amycolatum can cause opportunistic infections, it is commonly considered as contaminant. In this report, we present a case of bacteremia caused by C. amycolatum with a novel mutation in the gyrA gene that confers high-level quinolone resistance to the organism.

Efficacy evaluation of new teat dip formulation [cyteal] for control of bovine mastitis under experimental and field conditions

The germicidal activity of commercial teat dip formulation [cyteal] [containing 0.1 g hexamidine, 0.5 ml chlorhexidine digluconate and 0.3 g chlorocresol] was tested in vitro against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus and Corynebacterium bovis field strains isolated from a dairy herd of 78 lactating cows. It was revealed that concentration of 0.5% tested compound was effective against the isolated organisms. A natural exposure study was conducted for 6 months in dairy herd to determine the efficacy of cyteal as post-milking teat antiseptic for the prevention of the new intramammary infections. There were 7.4% new intramammary infections on the dipped group and 21.6 on the control group [65.7% reduction]. The teat dip was effective in preventing new infections with Staphylococci, Strept. agalactiae, Coryne. bovis but did not appear to prevent new infection with coliforms. The percentage of infected quarters on the dipped group was reduced from an initial [35.1%] to [22.2%] at the end of the study whereas the incidence in the control quarters increased from 23.6% to 35.8% at the end of the study

Abscesso de mama: importância do antibiograma / Breast abscess: the importance of the antibiogram

O abscesso da mama foi avaliado em 32 pacientes que procuraram o Serviço de Ginecolofia e Obstetrícia em 1990 e 1991. A idade média das pacientes era de 27 anos e 78 por cento delas eram puérperas. O Staphylococcus aureus foi o agente etiológico mais encontrado (90,64 por cento). A penicilina (89,6 por cento) e a ampicilina (75,8 por cento) apresentaram alta resistência. A eritromicina (89,6 por cento), a oxacilina (96,5 por cento), a cefalotina (96,5 por cento), a lincomicina (76,5 por cento), a vancomicina (100 por cento) e o sulfametoxazol-trimetoprim (89,6 por cento) apresentaram alta sensibilidade.

Aislamiento de corynebacterium urealyticum de muestras clínicas: identificación bioquímica y sensibilidad a 10 antibióticos / Corynebacterium urealyticum isolation from clinical specimens: biochemical identification and sensibility to ten antibiotics

Fueron estudiadas 21 cepas de Corynebacterium urealyticum aisladas de distintos pacientes: 19 (90,5 por ciento) de infecciones urinarias, 1 de un cálculo renal y la restante de un absceso retroperitoneal. Sobre 15 cepas tomadas al azar, se determinó la CIM de 10 antibióticos: vancomicina, ciprofloxacina, rifampicina, penicilina, cefalotina, ceftriaxona, imipenem, amikacina, gentamicina y cotrimoxazol. En 18 (85,7 ciento por ciento) pacientes los cultivos fueron monomicrobianos y en 3 (14,3 por ciento), asociados a otras bacterias. La totalidad de las cepas fueron catalasa y ureasa positivas. Ninguna redujo los nitratos ni fermentó los hidratos de carbono. Las 15 cepas sobre las que se determinó la CIM fueron totalmente sensibles a vancomicina y parcialmente sensibles a ciprofloxacina y rifampicina. La producción de ureasa y la no fermentación de la glucosa, asociadas a la multirresistencia, conforman elementos de inestimable valor para la identificación presuntiva del C. urealyticum

Endocarditis por Corynebacterium xerosis / Endocarditis due to Corynebacterium xerosis

Se presenta un caso de una enferma de 30 años de edad con una endocarditis de válvula protesica tardía con Corynebacterium xerosis. Se realizó un reemplazo valvular mitral en 1977. Ingressó con un síndrome febril prolongado de un mes de duración. Los hemocultivos fueron negativos, y fue tratada con penicilina, cefalotina y gentamicina sin respuesta. Requirió recambio valvular por progresión de la infección: aparición de nuevas vegetaciones y de un abscesso paravalvular. En el cultivo de la prótesis se aisló el C. xerosis. Fue tratada durante 4 semanas con clindamicina (por presentar alergia cutánea con beta-lactámicos). Fue dada de alta asintomática. La identificación de "difteroides" es dificultosa, pues se requiere una prolongada incubación y presentan escasa actividad en las reacciones químicas habituales. La endocarditis es la infección más frecuente causada por estos microorganismos. La cepa fue sensible a los antibióticos administrados, pese a lo cual requirió reemplazo valvular. Es importante identificar microbiológicamente a los difteroides, dado que recientes publicaciones tienden a adjudicar a la especie JK (resistente a múltiples antibióticos) la responsabilidad de la mayoría de las endocarditis provocadas por este género bacteriano