title: Corynebacterium prosthetic joint infection.
abstract: Identification of Corynebacterium species may be challenging. Corynebacterium species are occasional causes of prosthetic joint infection (PJI), but few data are available on the subject. Based on the literature, C. amycolatum, C. aurimucosum, C. jeikeium, and C. striatum are the most common Corynebacterium species that cause PJI. We designed a rapid PCR assay to detect the most common human Corynebacterium species, with a specific focus on PJI. A polyphosphate kinase gene identified using whole-genome sequence was targeted. The assay differentiates the antibiotic-resistant species C. jeikeium and C. urealyticum from other species in a single assay. The assay was applied to a collection of human Corynebacterium isolates from multiple clinical sources, and clinically relevant species were detected. The assay was then tested on Corynebacterium isolates specifically associated with PJI; all were detected. We also describe the first case of C. simulans PJI.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cazanave
authors.forename: Kerryl E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Greenwood-Quaintance
authors.forename: Arlen D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Hanssen
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003352:Corynebacterium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003354:Corynebacterium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D017856:Phosphotransferases (Phosphate Group Acceptor) / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D017856:Phosphotransferases (Phosphate Group Acceptor); C022424:polyphosphate kinase