title: Corynebacterium Group JK pathogen in cerebrospinal fluid shunt infection. Report of two cases.
abstract: The clinical and laboratory findings in two cases of aerobic Corynebacterium Group JK infection of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts are described. These organisms have occasionally been reported as a cause of serious infections in man but have not been reported as a cause of shunt infection. In both cases, CSF pleocytosis was limited to 20 or 60 cells with variable protein and sugar values. Fever was a constant finding, frequently accompanied by signs of central nervous system dysfunction. Corynebacterium Group JK organisms are common contaminants of the normal skin flora. When isolated from the blood and/or the CSF of a patient with a CSF shunt who has symptoms and signs compatible with infection, the organism should not be dismissed as a contaminant. A significant feature of this group is its resistance to almost all presently available antibiotics including penicillin, the cephalosporins, and the aminoglycosides. These organisms are, however, sensitive to vancomycin.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Keren
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Geva
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bogokovsky
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rubinstein
mesh_terms: D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003352:Corynebacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003354:Corynebacterium Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014640:Vancomycin