title: Corynebacterium striatum--a classic pathogen eluding diagnosis.
abstract: We report one case of infective endocarditis and two cases of arthritis due to Corynebacterium striatum. After reviewing all previously reported cases, we illustrate the clinical features typical of infection, including nosocomial risk factors and prominent embolic phenomena in the cases of endocarditis. Our cases underscore the importance of prompt diagnosis when confronted with positive blood and synovial cultures. This ubiquitous organism and common contaminant is a rare yet deadly pathogen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine F, Israel.
authors.forename: Doron
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boltin
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katzir
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bugoslavsky
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yalashvili
authors.forename: Tal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brosh-Nissimov
authors.forename: Moti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fried
authors.forename: Ori
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Elkayam
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D003354:Corynebacterium Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male