Corynebacterium jeikeium bacteremia in a hemodialyzed patient.
Corynebacterium jeikeium, frequently encountered in clinical specimens, is part of the normal skin flora. Nevertheless, a few cases of C. jeikeium bacteremia followed by severe clinical manifestations have been reported. C. jeikeium has been reported to cause endocarditis, septicemia, meningitis, pneumonia and osteomyelitis, along with soft tissue and trauma infections. Herein we describe a case of C. jeikeium bacteremia in Greece. The isolation of a coryneform bacterium from a clinical specimen should not immediately be considered a superinfection by the skin flora. Clinical and laboratory investigations are essential in order to evaluate such cases before applying appropriate treatment. On the other hand, the association of coryneform bacteria and disease should be critically investigated, with a thorough identification of the strain, ideally beyond the classical methods, at a specialized center.
Ifantidou
Athina M
AM
First Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 5 N. Haronda Street, Thessaloniki, Greece. ifathina@yahoo.gr
Diamantidis
Michael D
MD
Tseliki
Georgia
G
Angelou
Argiri S
AS
Christidou
Photini
P
Papa
Anna
A
Pentilas
Demetrius
D
D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D003352:Corynebacterium / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003354:Corynebacterium Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014640:Vancomycin; D012293:Rifampin