The first case of urosepsis caused by Corynebacterium aurimucosum in an immunocompetent patient

Future Microbiol. 2024;19(11):963-970. doi: 10.1080/17460913.2024.2344953. Epub 2024 May 24.

Abstract

Non-diphtheroid Corynebacterium sepsis is rare and has affected only immunocompromised or particularly predisposed patients so far. We present the first case of urosepsis caused by Corynebacterium aurimucosum in a 67-year-old woman, without any known immunodeficiencies and in absence of any immunosuppressive therapy, admitted to the hospital for fever and acute dyspnea. This work suggests a new approach in evaluating the isolation of Corynebacteria, especially if isolated from blood. In particular, it highlights the potential infectious role of C. aurimucosum (often considered a contaminant and only rarely identified as an etiological agent of infections) and its clinical consequences, detailing also interesting aspects about its microbiological diagnosis and relative therapy and clarifying contrasting data of literature.

Keywords: Corynebacterium; MALDI-TOF MS; sepsis; whole-generation sequencing.

Plain language summary

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Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Corynebacterium Infections* / diagnosis
  • Corynebacterium Infections* / drug therapy
  • Corynebacterium Infections* / microbiology
  • Corynebacterium* / classification
  • Corynebacterium* / genetics
  • Corynebacterium* / isolation & purification
  • Corynebacterium* / pathogenicity
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Sepsis* / drug therapy
  • Sepsis* / microbiology
  • Urinary Tract Infections* / diagnosis
  • Urinary Tract Infections* / drug therapy
  • Urinary Tract Infections* / microbiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents