Multiresistant corynebacteria in bacteriuria: a comparative study of the role of Corynebacterium group D2 and Corynebacterium jeikeium.
During an 11-month prospective study, urine cultures were performed on 5685 samples obtained in three hospital units. The use of a selective medium improved the recovery of antibiotic-multiresistant corynebacteria (AMC): 703 isolates (12.4%) compared with 88 isolates (1.6%) on sheep blood agar. Corynebacterium group D2 (CGD2) was isolated in 80.5% of urines yielding greater than or equal to 10(5) AMC ml-1 whereas Corynebacterium jeikeium represented 80.2% of isolates with less than 10(5) AMC ml-1. Among 16 patients with greater than or equal to 10(5) ml-1 C. jeikeium none had signs of urinary tract infection. In contrast, among 56 patients with greater than or equal to 10(5) CGD2, 40 (71%) had abnormal urinary sediment (mainly apatite or struvite crystals) and 29 (52%) had clinical signs of urinary tract infections sometimes complicated by lithiasis (seven cases) and alkaline-encrusted cystitis (two cases).
De Briel
D
D
Institut de Bactériologie, Strasbourg, France.
Langs
J C
JC
Rougeron
G
G
Chabot
P
P
Le Faou
A
A
D000892:Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary / Q000494:pharmacology; D001437:Bacteriuria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D003352:Corynebacterium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003470:Culture Media; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013045:Species Specificity
D000892:Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary; D003470:Culture Media