Corynebacterium JK: a cause of nosocomial device-related infection

Ten cases of serious infection due to antibiotic-resistant Corynebacterium JK are reported. Five infections occurred in patients with hematologic malignancy and granulocytopenia, an association previously reported. Five additional nosocomial infections occurred in patients without underlying disease previously reported to be associated with JK. Nine of the 10 infections were nosocomial in origin and were associated with plastic devices that had been inserted into the patients. JK organisms were isolated from a variety of sources from an additional 40 uninfected patients. Although the majority of clinical isolates of Corynebacterium JK were contaminants, our experience suggests that as many as 20% of isolations are associated with serious nosocomial infections. Isolation of Corynebacterium JK--particularly in blood cultures--from patients with indwelling catheters or other devices is highly suggestive of the presence of a serious nosocomial infection.