Corynebacterium aquaticum infection in a patient with chronic granulomatous disease

Patients with chronic granulomatous disease are uniquely susceptible to infection with catalase-producing bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella, Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescans are common infecting organisms. A 17-month-old boy with Corynebacterium aquaticum bacteremia is reported. This is only the third documented infection with this non-JK diphtheroid and the first case infection in a patient with chronic granulomatous disease. It is likely that our patient's underlying immune defect predisposed him to infection with this unusual, catalase-producing organism. Although these bacteria are common contaminants and rarely infecting agents, true infection should be considered in patients with chronic granulomatous disease from whom a diphtheroid is isolated.