title: Fatal Mycobacterium abscessus endocarditis misidentified as Corynebacterium spp.
abstract: The microbiological similarities of rapidly growing mycobacteria and corynebacteria impose potential for misidentification in the laboratory. This report describes a fatal case of infectious endocarditis caused by Mycobacterium abscessus, initially identified and treated as Corynebacterium spp. Acid-fast staining should be performed routinely when multiple blood cultures grow Corynebacterium spp.
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. johnwill@wfubmc.edu
authors: John C
authors: JC
authors: Williamson
authors: Todd A
authors: TA
authors: Miano
authors: Michael R
authors: MR
authors: Morgan
authors: Elizabeth L
authors: EL
authors: Palavecino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003354:Corynebacterium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents