Corynebacterium aquaticum septicaemia in a neutropenic patient.
Corynebacteria are a well recognised cause of sepsis in the immunocompromised patient. Corynebacterium aquaticum, however, is rarely seen in the clinical setting, being an environmental organism associated with fresh water. A septicaemic episode caused by this organism in a 74 year old neutropenic woman with an indwelling central venous catheter is reported. It is postulated that the source of the organism was untreated stored rainwater which she used for showering.
Moore
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C
Division of Clinical Microbiology, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide, Australia.
Norton
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R
D000368:Aged; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000382:microbiology; D003352:Corynebacterium / Q000145:classification*; D003354:Corynebacterium Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy