Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (Feb 2013)

Clonal multidrug-resistant Corynebacterium striatum within a nosocomial environment, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

  • Paulo Victor Pereira Baio,
  • Higor Franceschi Mota,
  • Andréa D'avila Freitas,
  • Débora Leandro Rama Gomes,
  • Juliana Nunes Ramos,
  • Lincoln Oliveira Sant'Anna,
  • Mônica Cristina Souza,
  • Thereza Cristina Ferreira Camello,
  • Raphael Hirata Junior,
  • Verônica Viana Vieira,
  • Ana Luíza Mattos-Guaraldi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02762013000100004
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 108, no. 1
pp. 23 – 29

Abstract

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Corynebacterium striatum is a potentially pathogenic microorganism with the ability to produce outbreaks of nosocomial infections. Here, we document a nosocomial outbreak caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) C. striatum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. C. striatum identification was confirmed by 16S rRNA and rpoB gene sequencing. Fifteen C. striatum strains were isolated from adults (half of whom were 50 years of age and older). C. striatum was mostly isolated in pure culture from tracheal aspirates of patients undergoing endotracheal intubation procedures. The analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) indicated the presence of four PFGE profiles, including two related clones of MDR strains (PFGE I and II). The data demonstrated the predominance of PFGE type I, comprising 11 MDR isolates that were mostly isolated from intensive care units and surgical wards. A potential causal link between death and MDR C. striatum (PFGE types I and II) infection was observed in five cases.

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