Worldwide survey of Corynebacterium striatum increasingly associated with human invasive infections, nosocomial outbreak, and antimicrobial multidrug-resistance, 1976–2020

Abstract

Corynebacterium striatum is part of microbiota of skin and nasal mucosa of humans and has been increasingly reported as the etiologic agent of community-acquired and nosocomial diseases. Antimicrobial multidrug-resistant (MDR) C. striatum strains have been increasingly related to various nosocomial diseases and/or outbreaks worldwide, including fatal invasive infections in immunosuppressed and immunocompetent patients. Although cases of infections by C. striatum still neglected in some countries, the improvement of microbiological techniques and studies led to the increase of survival of patients with C. striatum nosocomial infections at different levels of magnitude. Biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces contributes for the persistence of virulent C. striatum and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance in hospital environment. Besides that, empirical antibiotic therapy can select multi-resistant strains and transfer intra and interspecies genes horizontally. In this study, a worldwide survey of C. striatum human infections and nosocomial outbreaks was accomplished by the analysis of clinical–epidemiological and microbiological features of reported cases from varied countries, during a 44-year period (1976–2020).

Treat Me Well or Will Resist: Uptake of Mobile Genetic Elements Determine the Resistome of Corynebacterium striatum

“…Infections caused by C. striatum are also associated with sternal surgical wound wires [ 22 ]. Nosocomial infections and outbreaks caused by C. striatum are mainly found the respiratory tract, notably due to mechanical ventilation support as a risk factor in different countries [ 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. During a nosocomial outbreak in Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil, cases of ventilator-associated pneumonia and tracheobronchitis in addition to catheter-related sepsis caused by MDR C. striatum strains were verified [ 1 ].…”

“…During a nosocomial outbreak in Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil, cases of ventilator-associated pneumonia and tracheobronchitis in addition to catheter-related sepsis caused by MDR C. striatum strains were verified [ 1 ]. Recently, a review study and analysis of clinical–epidemiological and microbiological features of a total of 218 reported research studies during a 44 year period (1976 to 2020) verified that MDR and multidrug susceptible (MDS) C. striatum strains were identified in 254 reported cases as nosocomial and community pathogens worldwide [ 25 ].…”

“…C. striatum strains expressing varied MDR profiles have been identified as the etiologic agent of various types of both nosocomial and non-healthcare associated infections reported in industrialized and developing countries [ 25 , 27 ]. Recently, resistance to antiseptic and disinfectants such as glutaraldehyde (GA) has also been reported for C. striatum [ 28 ].…”

Classification of three corynebacterial strains isolated from a small paddock in North Rhine-Westphalia: proposal of Corynebacterium kalinowskii sp. nov., Corynebacterium comes sp. nov. and Corynebacterium occultum sp. nov.

“…urealyticum and C. striatum being especially prevalent [6, 7]. However, non-pathogenic representatives of the genus are known as industrial producers of amino acids [1].…”

“…Some species of Corynebacterium are pathogenic, like Corynebacterium diphtheriae [5]; however, there are many species that are part of the normal skin microbiota that cause diseases in humans such as, among others, Corynebacterium striatum, Corynebacterium urealyticum, Corynebacterium jeikeium, Corynebacterium amycolatum, Corynebacterium macginleyi and Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii [3]. In case of the pathogenic strains, cases of macrolide-resistant Corynebacterium species are increasing, with C. urealyticum and C. striatum being especially prevalent [6,7]. However, non-pathogenic representatives of the genus are known as industrial producers of amino acids [1].…”