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[Corynebacterium amycolatum: sepsis in hematologic patients]
I de Miguel1, E Rodríguez, A M Martín
1Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Insular de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Enfermedades Infecciosas Y Microbiologia Clinica
|October 27, 1999
Summary
Sepsis caused by Corynebacterium amycolatum is rare, particularly in leukemia patients. Thin-layer chromatography can distinguish this bacterium from other diphtheroids, aiding in diagnosis and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Medical microbiology
- Infectious diseases
Background:
- Corynebacterium amycolatum is an infrequently reported cause of human infection.
- Sepsis cases due to this bacterium are rare, necessitating further clinical and microbiological evaluation.
Observation:
- Two leukemia patients in neutropenic phases developed sepsis.
- Initial identification using the Api Coryne system misclassified isolates as Corynebacterium xerosis.
Findings:
- Chemotaxonomic analysis via thin-layer chromatography revealed the absence of mycolic acids.
- This absence confirmed the isolates as Corynebacterium amycolatum, distinct from other diphtheroids.
- Successful antibiotic treatment was administered to both patients.
Implications:
- Sepsis from Corynebacterium amycolatum is an uncommon but treatable condition.
- Mycolic acid detection using thin-layer chromatography is crucial for accurate differentiation of Corynebacterium amycolatum from similar bacteria.
- Improved diagnostic methods can enhance patient outcomes for rare sepsis cases.