[Corynebacterium aquaticum infection: one case report and literature review]

To study the diagnosis and treatment of Corynebacterium aquaticum infection.

A retrospective analysis of one case of Corynebacterium aquaticum infection and literature review were conducted.

A 39-year old male patient was admitted because of cough, sputum production, fever and right chest pain for 10 days. Broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy had been given in another hospital, but the patient's condition had deteriorated.Nuclear magnetic resonance-guided percutancous transthoracic needle aspiration and lung tissue, pleural fluid and blood culture were performed after admission to our hospital. Corynebacterium aquaticum was grown from the lung tissue, the blood and the pleural effusion. Therefore the diagnosis of Corynebacterium aquaticum pneumonia complicated with pyothorax and septicemia was confirmed. After draining of pleural pus and intravenous vancomycin therapy, the patient recovered and was discharged from hospital. After literature search, we did not find reports on Corynebacterium aquaticum pneumonia complicated with pyothorax and septicemia.

Corynebacterium aquaticum pneumonia complicated with pyothorax and septicemia is rare. The diagnosis could be confirmed by bacterial culture of lung tissue, pleural fluid and blood. Thoracic cavity draining and intravenous vancomycin are effective therapies for the disease.