title: Molecular evidence of person-to-person transmission of a pigmented strain of Corynebacterium striatum in intensive care units.
abstract: During a 14-month period, a unique strain of Corynebacterium striatum that produces a diffusible brown pigment was isolated from purulent sputa of nine patients and from nonrespiratory sites of two additional patients. Seven nonpigmented clinical isolates from the same period and three reference strains of C. striatum were compared with the brown isolates. Most patients had multiple sputum cultures with no coryneforms before the brown strain emerged, suggesting that the organism was hospital acquired. DNA restriction fragment patterns and Southern hybridization with the att site probe of Corynebacterium diphtheriae indicated that the brown isolates were a single strain which was distinct from the heterogeneous nonpigmented strains. A common source for the brown C. striatum was not recognized, although all of these patients were located in two adjoining intensive care units. All of the brown isolates, three of the nonpigmented clinical isolates, and two reference strains had positive CAMP reactions with Staphylococcus aureus, which has not been reported for C. striatum prior to this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle 98104.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Leonard
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Nowowiejski
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Finn
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Coyle
mesh_terms: D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D003354:Corynebacterium Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000635:transmission*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000235:genetics / Q000635:transmission*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000635:transmission*; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D005227:Fatty Acids