[Prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Corynebacterium urealyticum]

Corynebacterium urealyticum has been recognised as causing inflammatory cystitis and other human infections. In our knowledge this is the first case of a prosthetic valve endocarditis due to C. urealyticum. It was diagnosed in a 61 year old male patient with a history of rheumatic fever, hypertension and aortic stenosis. He had undergone surgery to replace the aortic valve and to perform triple aortocoronary bypass. The isolate was not multiresistant. Endocarditis due to C. urealyticum is very rare. Corynebacterium species, usually considered as contaminants, frequently colonize surgical cardiovascular areas and must be taken into account as causative agents of severe endocarditis.