title: Corynebacterium group JK in a hematological ward: infections, colonization and environmental contamination.
abstract: Because 2 patients with acute leukemia expired in septicemia with multiresistant Corynebacterium group JK (JK) the occurrence and significance of these bacteria in a hematological ward was analysed. During the following year JK was isolated in 6 other patients with acute leukemia, in 5 as a colonizing agent and in 1 as cause of an anorectal abscess. The environmental investigation with cultures from all patients, personnel and rooms in the ward disclosed heavy contamination with JK in 2 isolation rooms housing JK-colonized patients. Contamination with JK in other rooms was very sparse and there were no JK-positive cultures from personnel or other patients in the ward. Repeated environmental cultures taken after the JK-colonized patients left the isolation rooms showed sparse contamination with JK. Thus, JK strains can survive in the environment for a long time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Bacteriology, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Telander
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lerner
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palmblad
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ringertz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003354:Corynebacterium Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000150:complications; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D010356:Patient Isolation; D010362:Patients' Rooms; D018805:Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology