Corynebacterium菌屬中,我們已了解Corynebacterium diphtheriae會造成白喉,但關於其他的Corynebacterium菌屬,長期以來在臨床上都被忽視。近來的研究顯示,臨床分離出的Corynebacterium菌屬有其重要意義,特別是在免疫低下、使用過多重抗生素、長期住院和接受過侵襲性醫療處置的病人,在各國都陸續有社區和院內感染的案例。Corynebacterium striatum多重抗藥的特點,也使得我們更需重視C. striatum造成的院內感染和感控相關措施。
Corynebacterium species are widely distributed in the environment and in the microbiota of humans and animals. Corynebacterium species are classified include Corynebacterium diphtheria and non-diphtherial corynebacteria; the former is pathogenic for diphtheria, while the latter are parts of the normal flora on the skin and mucosa membranes of humans. Non-diphtherial corynebacteria isolated from clinical specimens are often regarded as contaminants. However, recently published researches suggested that when Corynebacterium striatum being isolated from normally sterile sites, it should be considered a true pathogen. Corynebacterium striatum has not uncommonly been found to cause infections such as bacteremia, pneumonia and endocarditis, in immunocompromised patients. Of note, increasingly emerging multidrug-resistant C. striatum isolates and outbreaks due to these isolates have been reported. Patients with multiple comorbidities, prior extensive exposure to antibiotics, and/or long-term hospitalization are at risk for developing infections caused by multidrug-resistant C. striatum.