Encrusted cystitis caused by corynebacterium urealyticum: a case report with novel treatment strategy of intravesical dimethyl sulfoxide

ABSTRACT Encrusted cystitis (EC) was first described as chronic cystitis with mucosal calcification in 1914 (1). It is a very rare chronic inflammatory disease presenting with dysuria, pelvic pain and gross hematuria. Voided urine contains mucus or calcified mucopurulent stone like particles. Urinalysis always reveals alkaline pH. It may be present in healthy individuals with no predisposing etiological factors (2-4). Etiologically, previous urological diseases, immunosuppression, urinary infection with urea splitting bacteria, or urological interventions resulting in bladder mucosa trauma may also be present (5, 6). In the present case report, we describe a novel treatment for EC with intravesical dimethyl sulfoxide.

Central venous catheter-related infections caused by Corynebacterium amycolatum and other multiresistant non-diphtherial corynebacteria in paediatric oncology patients

ABSTRACT Bloodstream and venous catheter-related corynebacterial infections in paediatric patients with haematological cancer were investigated from January 2003 to December 2014 at the Brazilian National Cancer Institute in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We observed that during cancer treatment, invasive corynebacterial infections occurred independent of certain factors, such as age and gender, underlying diseases and neutropenia. These infections were ssscaused by Corynebacterium amycolatum and other non-diphtherial corynebacteria. All cases presented a variable profile of susceptibility to antimicrobial agents, except to vancomycin. Targeted antibiotic therapy may contribute to catheters maintenance and support quality of treatment. Non-diphtherial corynebacteria must be recognized as agents associated with venous access infections. Our data highlight the need for the accurate identification of corynebacteria species, as well as antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

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.

Tricomicosis (tricobacteriosis) en un infante: aspectos microbiológicos, dermatoscópicos y ultraestructurales / Trichomycosis (trichobacteriosis) capitis in an infant: microbiological, dermoscopic and ultrastructural features

La tricomicosis es una infección superficial causada por Corynebacterium flavescens, que afecta por lo regular pelos axilares, en menor grado los púbicos, los escrotales e interglúteos y excepcionalmente los de la cabeza o tricomicosis capitis (TC). Esta infección se caracteriza por formación de nódulos pilosos. Clínicamente se confunde con infecciones como piedra blanca y pediculosis. El diagnóstico se realiza por microscopia y dermatoscopia de masas bacterianas y confirmado por cultivo. OBJETIVO: Presentar un caso de TC en un infante, y mostrar las características microscópicas, dermatoscópicas y ultraestructurales. CASO CLÍNICO: Niño sano de 6 meses de edad, con dermatosis que afectó los pelos de la cabeza en forma de múltiples nódulos-pilosos amarillentos. Se comprobó TC mediante fluorescencia amarilla a la luz de Wood; a la dermatoscopia se observaron cadenas blanco-amarillentas, como "rosarios de piedras cristalinas"; al examen directo se distinguieron masas bacterianas y al cultivo se identificó Corynebacterium flavescens. A la microscopia electrónica se observó infección superficial, sin perforación de los pelos. Se realizó tratamiento con aplicación de ácido fusídico por 3 semanas y se obtuvo curación clínica y microbiológica. CONCLUSIÓN: La TC es una entidad rara que se presenta en niños, y que suele confundirse con otros padecimientos del pelo como la pediculosis e infecciones micóticas.

Trichomycosis is a superficial infection caused by Corynebacterium flavescens, which regularly affects axillary, and to a a lesser extent, pubic, scrotal and intergluteal, and exceptionally, head hairs or trichomycosis capitis (TC). This condition is characterised by the formation of bacterial nodules. Clinically, it can be confused with white piedra or pediculosis. The diagnosis is made by microscopic and dermoscopic observation and confirmed by culture. OBJECTIVE: To present a case of TC in an infant and illustrate the microscopic, dermoscopic, and ultrastructural characteristics. CLINICAL CASE: A 6 month-old boy, otherwise healthy, with multiple yellowish concretions on the hairs of the head. TC was confirmed by yellow fluorescence with Wood’s light; white-yellowish beads, like "rosaries of crystalline stones" were observed on dermoscopy, direct examination showed bacterial masses, and Corynebacterium flavescens was identified by culture. A superficial infection, without perforation of the hairs, was confirmed by electron microscopy. Treatment with fusidic acid for 3 weeks achieved a clinical and microbiological cure. CONCLUSION: TC is a rare condition that affects children, and tends to be mistaken for other diseases of the hair, such as pediculosis and mycotic infections.

Corynebacterium striatum infecting a malignant cutaneous lesion: the emergence of an opportunistic pathogen / Corynebacterium striatum infectando lesão cutânea maligna: a emergência de um patógeno oportunista

We described a case of a 27-year old male patient with skin and soft tissue infection of a neoplastic lesion caused by Corynebacterium striatum, an organism which has been rarely described as a human pathogen. Identification was confirmed by DNA sequencing. Successful treatment with penicillin was achieved. The role of the C. striatum as an emerging opportunistic pathogen is discussed.

Descrevemos infecção de lesão neoplásica em paciente masculino de 27 anos, envolvendo pele e partes moles, causada por Corynebacterium striatum, um microrganismo raramente descrito como patógeno humano. A identificação foi confirmada por seqüenciamento de DNA. O paciente foi tratado com penicilina, com sucesso. O papel do C. striatum como patógeno oportunista é discutido.

Corinebacterioses humanas em países emergentes - Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum - patógeno relevante / Human corynebacteriosis in emerging countries - Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum - pathogen relevant

Diversas espécies pertencentes ao gênero Corynebacterium spp. têm sido frequentemente associadas com quadros graves de infecção (sepsis, endocardites, infecções cirúrgicas, próteses e infecções relacionadas ao cateter venoso, entre outras), particularmente, no ambiente nosocomial. Quando essas infecções estão relacionadas a espécies multirresistentes, estas são de difícil ou impossível tratamento. Escassos são os trabalhos realizados no Brasil que investigam a presença de amostras de corinebactérias relacionadas com processos infecciosos em pacientes atendidos em instituições públicas e privadas. No presente estudo, foram isoladas 163 amostras de corinebactérias, a partir de espécimes clínicos oriundos de pacientes atendidos no HUPE-UERJ. A maioria das amostras foi isolada do trato geniturinário e sítios intravenosos (46,6%), sendo Corynebacterium amycolatum (29,55%)> Corynebacterium minutissimum (20,45%)> Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum (13,63%) as espécies mais frequentemente encontradas. Corynebacterium minutissimum (24,14%)> Corynebacterium propinquum (17,24%) em cirurgias e/ou pele feridas e abscessos; Corynebacterium xerosis (25%)> Corynebacterium amycolatum (21,87%)> Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum (18,75%) nos sítios intravenosos; Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum (33,33%) e Corynebacterium propinquum (33,33 %) no trato respiratório inferior. Em relação aos testes de sensibilidade aos antimicrobianos testados rotineiramente, observamos que todos os microrganismos apresentaram sensibilidade à vancomicina e teicoplanina, enquanto a maioria das espécies foi predominantemente resistente aos b-lactâmicos. No período de 1993 a 2006, 113 amostras de C. pseudodiphtheriticum foram isoladas em ambiente hospitalar, principalmente em urina, trato respiratório baixo, sítios intravenosos e sangue, além de líquido peritoneal e abscesso, entre outros...

Various species belonging to the genus Corynebacterium spp. have been frequently associated with serious infection (sepsis, endocarditis, surgical infections, prostheses and infections related to venous catheter, among others), paticularly in nosocomial environment. Such infections are frequently difficult to treat when caused by multiresistant strains. Reports dealing with the descreption of infections process caused by corynebacteria in both public and private institutions in Brazil are scarce. In the present study, 163 corynebacterium strains were isolated from clinical specimens from patients in HUPE-UERJ. Most of the strains were isolated from genitourinary tract and intravenous sites (46,62%). Corynebacterium amycolatum (29,55%)> Corynebacterium minutissimum (20,45%)> Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum (13,63%) the most often isolated species in genitourinary tract. Corynebacterium minutissimum (24,14%)> Corynebacterium propinquum (17,24%), in surgery, and/or skin and abscesses; Corynebacterium xerosis (25%)> Corynebacterium amycolatum (21,87%)> Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum (18,75%) were isolated from intravenous sites. Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum (33,33%) and Corynebacterium propinquum (33,33%) were the most frequently species from lower respiratory tract. In relation to the sensibility to antibiotics routinely used clinically, it was observed that all microorganisms showed sensitivity to vancomycin and teicoplanin, while the majority of strains were predominantly resistant to b-lactam. From 1993 to 2006, 113 C. pseudodiphtheriticum strians were isolated predominantly from nosocomial environment from urine, lower respiratory tract, blood and intravenous sites, peritoneal fluid and abscess. The predominantly underlying conditions were renal failure, hemodialysis and/or transplant; and HIV infection...

Septicemine a corynebacterum jeikeium chez deux malades atteints d'hemopathie maligne

The Corynebacterium jeikeium is a Gram-positive bacillus that is considerated now as a new agent of infection in the immunodepressed. It is characterized by its resistance to antibiotics except for the vancomycine. We describe two cases of septicemia with Corynebacterium jeikeium in two patients affected by malignant homeopathy. We report the treatment as well as the evolution

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

Infected bullae: a recognizable entity

Infected bullae are seldom diagnosed. They are frequently confused with pulmonary abscess. We present a case with a characteristic evolution. Bullae were identified previous to the infection. The illness developed gradually with scanty sputum, pleuritic pain and finally a febrile illness. Fever abated 48 hours after initiating two weeks of therapy with intravenous Clindamycin and Amikacin. As it is commonly seen, radiographic resolution was slow but it was complete in 8 weeks. Recognition of infected bullae is important to avoid inappropriate diagnostic or therapeutic interventions

Infección por corinebacterium del grupo JK: a propósito de un paciente con una derivación ventriculoperitoneal / Corynebacterium group JK infection: report of a patient with a ventriculo peritoneal shunt

Se reporta un caso de infección por Corynebacterium del grupo JK que presentaba una hidrocefalia congénita con derivación ventriculoperitoneal y respuesta satisfactoria y respuesta satisfactoria a la terapéutica con vancomicina