Corynebacterium diphtheriae endocarditis: sustained potential of a classical pathogen. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1984. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Corynebacterium diphtheriae endocarditis: sustained potential of a classical pathogen.

Am J Clin Pathol. 1984 May;81(5):679-83. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/84200051
Trepeta RW; Edberg SC

Abstract: This communication concerns a case of endocarditis caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The patient was a 35-year-old male drug addict who was brought to the hospital with fever, chills, and abdominal pain. Two days after admission, blood cultures were found to be growing gram-positive rods suggestive of diphtheroids. Repeated blood cultures grew the same organism, which was identified as a nontoxigenic strain of C. diphtheriae. The patient subsequently was identified as having acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Although isolates are divided into toxigenic and nontoxigenic strains, all isolates of C. diphtheriae should be considered potentially toxigenic. Because diphtheria generally is considered only of historic interest, few laboratories perform tests to identify it and instead report all isolates as diphtheroids or Corynebacterium. Because all isolates are potentially toxigenic, and because there is a large reservoir of nonimmunized people, laboratories must be alert to possible serious epidemiologic situations.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/COMPLICATIONS Adult Case Report Corynebacterium diphtheriae/*ISOLATION & PURIF/PATHOGENICITY Endocarditis, Bacterial/*ETIOLOGY Human Male Substance Abuse/COMPLICATIONS Virulence JOURNAL ARTICLE

KWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/complicationsadultcasereportcorynebacteriumdiphtheriae/KWDisolation&purif/pathogenicityendocarditis,bacterial/KWDetiologyhumanmalesubstanceabuse/complicationsvirulencejournalarticle
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M8480031

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