TY - JOUR AU - Yamamuro, Ryosuke AU - Hosokawa, Naoto AU - Otsuka, Yoshihito AU - Osawa, Ryosuke T1 - Clinical Characteristics of Corynebacterium Bacteremia Caused by Different Species, Japan, 2014–2020 T2 - Emerging Infectious Disease journal PY - 2021 VL - 27 IS - 12 SP - 2981 SN - 1080-6059 AB - To determine differences in clinical characteristics of patients with bacteremia caused by Corynebacterium striatum, C. jeikeium, and other species of Corynebacterium, we retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients in Japan who had Corynebacterium bacteremia during January 2014–May 2020. Of the 115 records evaluated, 60 (52%) were cases of true bacteremia and 55 (48%) were cases of contamination. Proportions of true bacteremia cases caused by C. striatum (70%) and by C. jeikeium (71%) were significantly higher than those caused by other species of Corynebacterium (9%). These 2 organisms were commonly detected in blood cultures of patients with hematologic malignancies and neutropenia. The mortality rates at 90 days were 34% (C. striatum), 30% (C. jeikeium), and 0 (other species). Given the high mortality rates, assessing true bacteremia when C. striatum or C. jeikeium is detected in blood cultures, especially in patients with hematologic malignancy, is warranted. KW - Corynebacterium striatum KW - Corynebacterium jeikeium KW - contamination rate KW - bacteremia KW - hematologic malignancy KW - bacteria KW - Japan DO - 10.3201/eid2712.210473 UR - https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/27/12/21-0473_article ER - End of Reference