Malini Shariff1, Aditi Aditi2, Kiran Beri3. 1. Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi, India. malini.shariff@gmail.com. 2. Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi, India. aditi.lh@gmail.com. 3. Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi, India. kiranberi1@gmail.com.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Corynebacterium spp. are primarily considered normal flora and dismissed when isolated from clinical specimens. In recent years, Corynebacterium striatum has emerged as a multi-drug resistant human pathogen which can cause nosocomial outbreaks. The organism has infrequently been noted to cause respiratory infections. A retrospective study was conducted to identify the clinical and microbiological features of respiratory infection by Corynebacterium striatum. METHODOLOGY: C. striatum isolates from clinical and surveillance samples were tested for susceptibility to antimicrobials and typed by Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Clinical data was obtained through a retrospective review of records. RESULTS: 15 isolates from clinical and surveillance samples of 11 hospitalised patients were included. The patients suffered from either an exacerbation of COPD (n = 9) or pneumonia (n = 2). The isolates were all multi-drug resistant. RAPD typing found no evidence of an outbreak/ transmission between patients. CONCLUSIONS: Corynebacterium spp. must be considered potential pathogens. Suspicious isolates should be identified to the species level since Corynebacterium striatum is often multi-drug resistant. Copyright (c) 2018 Malini shariff, Aditi, Kiran Beri.
INTRODUCTION:Corynebacterium spp. are primarily considered normal flora and dismissed when isolated from clinical specimens. In recent years, Corynebacterium striatum has emerged as a multi-drug resistant human pathogen which can cause nosocomial outbreaks. The organism has infrequently been noted to cause respiratory infections. A retrospective study was conducted to identify the clinical and microbiological features of respiratory infection by Corynebacterium striatum. METHODOLOGY:C. striatum isolates from clinical and surveillance samples were tested for susceptibility to antimicrobials and typed by Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Clinical data was obtained through a retrospective review of records. RESULTS: 15 isolates from clinical and surveillance samples of 11 hospitalised patients were included. The patients suffered from either an exacerbation of COPD (n = 9) or pneumonia (n = 2). The isolates were all multi-drug resistant. RAPD typing found no evidence of an outbreak/ transmission between patients. CONCLUSIONS:Corynebacterium spp. must be considered potential pathogens. Suspicious isolates should be identified to the species level since Corynebacterium striatum is often multi-drug resistant. Copyright (c) 2018 Malini shariff, Aditi, Kiran Beri.