Corynebacterium striatum:: an underappreciated community and nosocomial pathogen

Corynebacterium striatum (CS) is an underappreciated human pathogen that has been associated with serious infections in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts. CS infections tend to be more frequent in males and major infection sites have included blood stream, lung, and central nervous system. Most are nosocomially acquired and there is a significant association with medical devices ranging from intravascular catheters to central nervous system drainage devices. Empiric therapy with vancomycin is advisable as susceptibility to other agents is variable. Treatment may also include removal of foreign material such as an intravascular catheter. The present review describes the wide spectrum of infections associated with CS and we add a unique case of CS pancreatic abscess where treatment included linezolid. (c) 2004 The British Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.