title: Fatal case of bacteremia caused by an atypical strain of Corynebacterium mucifaciens.
abstract: Corynebacterium species have often been considered normal skin flora or contaminants; however, in recent years they have been increasingly implicated in serious infections. Moreover, many new species have been discovered and old species renamed, especially after molecular biology techniques were introduced. Corynebacterium mucifaciens is mainly isolated from blood and from other normally-sterile body fluids; it forms slightly yellow, mucoid colonies on blood agar. We report a fatal case of bacteremia due to an atypical strain of C. mucifaciens. This strain had atypical colony morphology; analysis of the 16S rRNA gene was used to define the species.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology section, Weinmann Laboratory LTDA, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. vcantarelli@weinmann.com.br
authors.forename: Vlademir Vicente
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Cantarelli
authors.forename: Teresa Cristina Z
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Brodt
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Secchi
authors.forename: Everton
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Inamine
authors.forename: Fabiana de Souza
authors.initials: Fde S
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Diogo Andre
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Pilger
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D003352:Corynebacterium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003354:Corynebacterium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S