Non-toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae: two cases and review of the literature

• Published in: The Journal of infection Vol. 37; no. 1; pp. 62 - 66
• Main Authors: Holthouse, D.J., Power, B., Kermode, A., Golledge, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.07.1998; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial endocarditis, myocarditis and pericarditis. Bacterial diseases of the aorta, limb vessels and lymphatic vessels; Biological and medical sciences; Corynebacterium diphtheriae; Corynebacterium diphtheriae - isolation & purification; Diphtheria - diagnosis; Endocarditis - diagnosis; Endocarditis - microbiology; Head - diagnostic imaging; Heart Valve Diseases - microbiology; Heart Valve Diseases - surgery; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Mitral Valve - pathology; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Tropical medicine; Australia; Oceania; Human; Nervous system diseases; Cerebral embolism; Cardiovascular disease; Corynebacterium diphtheriae; Cerebral disorder; Infection; Vascular disease; Case study; Treatment; Heart disease; Endocardial disease; Central nervous system disease; Endocarditis; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Complication; Actinomycetes; Corynebacteriaceae; Diagnosis; Cerebrovascular disease; Bibliographic review
• ISSN: 0163-4453; 1532-2742
• DOI: 10.1016/S0163-4453(98)90690-9

Non-toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae infections are being reported with increasing frequency. We present two cases of C. diphtheriae endocarditis requiring early valve replacement. Both cases were complicated by cerebral embolic phenomena and pseudoaneurysm formation in lower limb arterial vessels. Non-toxigenic C. diphtheriae septicaemia must be excluded when ‘diphtheroids’ are isolated from blood cultures.