Internal-Fixation Hardware Infection With Corynebacterium jeikeium

Abstract

Corynebacterium is a rare cause of prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) and infection after fracture fixation (IAFF). We present a case of a patient who developed Corynebacterium jeikeium-associated IAFF three weeks after his fracture fixation. Due to its slow-growing nature, surgical cultures remained negative after 72 hours and grew only on day 5. We highlight that physicians should have Corynebacterium-associated infection in their differential in such cases, especially when the cultures remain negative after 72 hours. We also review the literature of PJI and implant-associated infection with C. jeikeium and discuss the antibiotic resistance patterns and some microbiological considerations associated with C. jeikeium.