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NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS WITH CORYNEBACTERIUM UREALYTICUM
Article published in Urologia Polska 2000/53/2.

authors

Agnieszka Mikucka 1, Eugenia Gospodarek 1, Marzena Paprzycka 2
1 Katedra i Zakład Mikrobiologii, Akademia Medyczna im. L. Rydygiera w Bydgoszczy
Kierownik: prof. dr hab. n, med. Z. Dudziak
2 Zakład Mikrobiologii, Samodzielny Publiczny Wojewódzki Szpital im. dr. J. Biziela w Bydgoszczy
Kierownik: mgr J. Kochanowska

keywords

urinary tract urinary tract infections Corynebacterium urealyticum

summary

Objectives. Corynebacterium urealyticum (formerly Corynebacterium group D2)
was first described by King in 1972. Its role as a urinary tract pathogen is well
established, particularly in patients who develop nosocomial infections
following urologic manipulations and antibiotic therapy. C. urealyticum, like C.
jeikeium, is resistant to many antibiotics with the exception of vancomycin and
teicoplanin. This bacteria is a fre±uent component of the skin flora, particularly
in hospitalized patients. C. urealyticum is a opportunistic pathogen. It has been
involved in bacteraemia, endocarditis and more rarely other systemic infections
such as pneumonia, peritonitis mostly in compromised hosts. In the work we
analyzed infections occurrence and antimicrobial susceptibilities of C.
urealyticum.
Material and method. The subject of the examination were 26 of C.
urealyticum strains. The strains were isolated from the clinical samples (urine,
drain, blood, wound swab) of a nosocomial patients. All the samples were
incubated on Columbia Agar supplemented with 5% sheep blood at 37°C in
5% CO2 for 24-48 h. Strains were identified by using the API Coryne system.
The activities of the antimicrobial agents were determined by an agar dilution
method with Mueller-Hinton agar which was supplemented with 5% sheep
blood.
Results. Most of the strains (73%) were isolated from the urine of bacteriuric
patients. From drain, blood, wound swab were isolated, proportionally: 15%,
8%, 4% stains. Seventy seven percent of patients were above 65 years old. All
strains were resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, nitrofurantoin. The
bacteria were uinformly susceptible to yancomycin, teikoplanin; irregularly
rare
Conclusion. C. urealyticum is a opportunistic, multiresistance organism. Most
often it has been involved in urinary tract infections. The bacteria cannot be
disregarded in the course of diagnostic procedure. Their recognition is necessary
for optimal preventive and therapeutic care of patients in risk groups.

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