Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum as a pathogen in bacterial co-infection in COVID-19 patients with mechanical ventilation

Yoshihiko Ogawa; Hiroyuki Ote; Tatsuya Arai; Ryo Kazama; Kazuhide Kimura; Toshihiko Nagata; Junji Kumasawa; Michihiko Kohno; Hisakazu Kohata; Koji Nishida; Iwao Gohma; Kei Kasahara

doi:10.7883/yoken.JJID.2021.481

This article has now been updated. Please use the final version.

Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum as a pathogen in bacterial co-infection in COVID-19 patients with mechanical ventilation

Yoshihiko Ogawa, Hiroyuki Ote, Tatsuya Arai, Ryo Kazama, Kazuhide Kimura, Toshihiko Nagata, Junji Kumasawa, Michihiko Kohno, Hisakazu Kohata, Koji Nishida, Iwao Gohma, Kei Kasahara

Author information

Yoshihiko Ogawa
Department of Infectious Disease, Sakai City Medical Center, Japan
COVID-19 treatment team, Sakai City Medical Center, Japan
Hiroyuki Ote
COVID-19 treatment team, Sakai City Medical Center, Japan
Tatsuya Arai
COVID-19 treatment team, Sakai City Medical Center, Japan
Ryo Kazama
COVID-19 treatment team, Sakai City Medical Center, Japan
Kazuhide Kimura
Department of Critical Care Medicine, Sakai City Medical Center, Japan
Toshihiko Nagata
Department of Critical Care Medicine, Sakai City Medical Center, Japan
Junji Kumasawa
Department of Critical Care Medicine, Sakai City Medical Center, Japan
Michihiko Kohno
Department of Critical Care Medicine, Sakai City Medical Center, Japan
Hisakazu Kohata
Department of Critical Care Medicine, Sakai City Medical Center, Japan
Koji Nishida
COVID-19 treatment team, Sakai City Medical Center, Japan
Iwao Gohma
COVID-19 treatment team, Sakai City Medical Center, Japan
Kei Kasahara
Department of Infectious Diseases, Nara Medical University, Japan

Keywords: Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum, COVID-19, ventilator-associated-complications

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS Advance online publication

Article ID: JJID.2021.481

DOI https://doi.org/10.7883/yoken.JJID.2021.481

The final version of this article is now available: Vol. 75 (2022), No. 2 pp. 202-204

Details

Abstract

Many studies have been conducted on ventilator-associated complications (VACs) in COVID-19 patients. However, in these studies, the causative organisms were similar, and there are no reports on VAC corresponding with Corynebacteria. Coryneforms are frequently cultured in polymicrobial infections and are usually considered contaminants in respiratory specimens. However today, Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum or striatum is known to be a pathogen in lower respiratory tract infection. We report three cases of VAC probably due to Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum in COVID-19 patients. If purulent lower respiratory specimens showed coryneform predominantly via Gram staining, empirical therapy should be started. Furthermore, species identification and drug susceptibility testing should be performed.

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