Catheter-related Corynebacterium bacteremia: should the catheter be removed and vancomycin administered?

The purpose of this study was to determine the need for central venous catheter removal in patients with corynebacterial catheter-related bloodstream infections and the impact of central venous catheter retention on response to systemic antibiotic therapy and relapse. We searched the microbiology laboratory database and patients' medical records at our institution between January 2000 and December 2006. We identified 98 patients with corynebacteria infection. Most of the episodes (94%) were catheter-related. Removing the catheter did not affect the outcome of treatment, particularly when an active non-glycopeptide antibiotic was used. All Corynebacterium species isolates were susceptible to vancomycin, 54/55 (98%) to linezolid, 80/95 (84%) to rifampin, and 69/85 (81%) to tetracycline. The median duration of antibiotic therapy was 12 days (range, 0-28), and vancomycin was the most commonly used antibiotic (64%). There was a trend toward earlier fever resolution in patients treated with non-glycopeptide antibiotics compared to vancomycin, particularly if the catheter was not removed. Central venous catheter removal might not be necessary in patients with corynebacterial catheter related bloodstream infection, particularly if systemic therapy consists of non-glycopeptide antibiotics. Treatment with a systemic active antibiotic over a 7-day period appears to be adequate for resolution of the infection.