Bloodstream infection caused by nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae in an immunocompromised host in the United States

Christina M Wojewoda; Christine E Koval; Deborah A Wilson; Mary H Chakos; Susan M Harrington

doi:10.1128/JCM.00237-12

Bloodstream infection caused by nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae in an immunocompromised host in the United States

J Clin Microbiol. 2012 Jun;50(6):2170-2. doi: 10.1128/JCM.00237-12. Epub 2012 Apr 4.

Authors

Christina M Wojewoda¹, Christine E Koval, Deborah A Wilson, Mary H Chakos, Susan M Harrington

Affiliation

¹ Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Abstract

Corynebacterium species are well-known causes of catheter-related bloodstream infections. Toxigenic strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae cause respiratory diphtheria. We report a bloodstream infection caused by a nontoxigenic strain of C. diphtheriae and discuss the epidemiology, possible sources of the infection, and the implications of rapid species identification of corynebacteria.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
Bacteremia / diagnosis*
Bacteremia / microbiology
Bacteremia / pathology
Bacteriological Techniques / methods
Corynebacterium Infections / diagnosis*
Corynebacterium Infections / microbiology
Corynebacterium Infections / pathology
Corynebacterium diphtheriae / isolation & purification*
Humans
Immunocompromised Host
Male
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
United States
Young Adult

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents