Characteristics of Multidrug-resistant Corynebacterium spp. Isolated from Blood Cultures from Hospitalized Patients in Japan.

We reported the epidemiological investigation of Corynebacterium spp. isolated from bloodstream specimens in Kurume University Hospital, between June 2008 and July 2011. Twenty-two Corynebacterium spp. likely isolates were isolated from 22 hospitalized patients, of which 12 (54.5%) strains were identified as Corynebacterium striatum. Minimum inhibitory concentration tests were performed after biochemical and genotypic identifications. Biofilm productions were detected using a 96-well microplate assay. The dissemination of Corynebacterium striatum was investigated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. All strains showed a tendency of multidrug resistance except for vancomycin. Fourteen (82.4%) strains, including 9 C. striatum strains were capable to produce biofilms. Four distinct PFGE patterns were detected in C. striatum strains, and 6 of which shown a dominant pattern A (defined in this study) were with high abilities to produce biofilms. During a 3-year monitoring period, these strains possibly repeatedly infected the patients or firmly colonized in hospital environments. C. striatum seemed to be potential risk factors of bloodstream infections for hospitalized patients. More surveillance and enhanced control strategies are necessary to decrease Corynebacterium spp. infections in hospitals. PMID: 27357981 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Tags: Jpn J Infect Dis Source Type: research