Corynebacterium group JK in a hematological ward: infections, colonization and environmental contamination

Because 2 patients with acute leukemia expired in septicemia with multiresistant Corynebacterium group JK (JK) the occurrence and significance of these bacteria in a hematological ward was analysed. During the following year JK was isolated in 6 other patients with acute leukemia, in 5 as a colonizing agent and in 1 as cause of an anorectal abscess. The environmental investigation with cultures from all patients, personnel and rooms in the ward disclosed heavy contamination with JK in 2 isolation rooms housing JK-colonized patients. Contamination with JK in other rooms was very sparse and there were no JK-positive cultures from personnel or other patients in the ward. Repeated environmental cultures taken after the JK-colonized patients left the isolation rooms showed sparse contamination with JK. Thus, JK strains can survive in the environment for a long time.