title: Corynebacterium macginleyi: A cause of ventilator associated pneumonia in an immunocompromised patient.
abstract: Corynebacterium macginleyi, a lipophilic diphtheroid from the genus Corynebacteria, is a known cause of conjunctivitis. It was recently reported as a cause of serious infections in immunocompromised individuals. It has never been reported as a cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia, that which carries a high burden and risk of mortality. Our report intends to increase awareness of a potentially lethal nosocomial bacterial infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case reports on a 73 year old lady with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma on chemotherapy, who was hospitalized for dyspnea and diffuse pulmonary infiltrates in 2011. Trans-bronchial biopsies revealed cryptogenic organizing pneumonia. The patient improved with steroids. Failure to wean ensued with a bronchopleural fistula, increase in secretions, oxygen requirements, and appearance of new infiltrates. Two mini-BAL cultures yielded gram positive pleomorphic rods with palisade arrangement, diagnosed as C. macginleyi. Vancomycin therapy was initiated. She improved and was successfully extubated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-diphtheria Corynebacteria usually form normal flora. If isolated, they are often dismissed as contaminants. C. macginleyi has emerged as a life-threatening nosocomial infection. Prompt identification and treatment are required. It is resistant to quinolones. Thus far, vancomycin is the preferred treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, 3495 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14215, USA.
authors.forename: Jad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kebbe
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, 3495 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14215, USA.
authors.forename: M Jeffery
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mador
keywords: Corynebacterium macginleyi; Immunocompromised; Ventilator-associated pneumonia