Successful treatment of Corynebacterium striatum endocarditis with daptomycin plus rifampin.
OBJECTIVE
To report a case of Corynebacterium striatum endocarditis that was treated successfully with daptomycin plus rifampin following an unsuccessful attempt at vancomycin desensitization and failure of linezolid therapy.


METHODS
A 46-year-old woman with hemodialysis-dependent chronic renal failure was admitted for a graft-related infection. She presented with C. striatum endocarditis that was treated with daptomycin plus rifampin due to a history of allergies to vancomycin and beta-lactam antibiotics and failure of linezolid therapy. The patient received daptomycin and rifampin for a total of 6 weeks. Three months after completion of treatment, no recurrence of endocarditis was evident.


CONCLUSIONS
Daptomycin is a lipopeptide antibiotic, with rapid bactericidal activity. It has demonstrated efficacy in animal models of staphylococcal, streptococcal, and enterococcal endocarditis. Case reports of its activity in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis have also been documented.


CONCLUSIONS
Daptomycin, which has shown in vitro activity against C. striatum, may be a viable treatment option for patients with C. striatum endocarditis who are either allergic or refractory to traditional antibiotics.
Shah
Monica
M
Department of Pharmaceutical Services, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Newark, NJ 07112-2027, USA. moshah@sbhcs.com
Murillo
Jeremias L
JL
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003352:Corynebacterium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003354:Corynebacterium Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D017576:Daptomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012293:Rifampin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017576:Daptomycin; D012293:Rifampin