Corynebacterium hemolyticum bacteremia with fatal neurologic complication in an intravenous drug addict.
A 50-year-old intravenous drug user presented with clinical features suggestive of mitral valve endocarditis. Blood culture specimens grew Corynebacterium hemolyticum. Despite treatment with penicillin, he died from a neurologic complication. Recognition of the pathogenic potential of nondiphtherial coryneforms in non-immunocompromised hosts is important.
D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D003354:Corynebacterium Infections / Q000150:complications*; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D006406:Hematoma / Q000209:etiology*; D006556:Heroin Dependence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology