Corinebacterium urealyticum: increased incidence of infection and encrusted uropathy

Encrusted Urinary Tract Infections Due to Corynebacteria Species

“…So far, only a few series have characterized the spectrum of encrusted urinary tract infections due to corynebacteria species (Supplementary Table S5). [11][12][13][14][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] Despite suggestive imaging features, diagnosis of encrusted urinary tract infection is challenging given the need for specific culture media to identify corynebacteria species and the important delay between first symptoms and established diagnosis. 27 Of note, most patients present with obstructive renal failure, and most have pre-existing chronic kidney disease at the time of diagnosis, suggesting a chronic unrecognized process.…”

“…Although urinary tract obstruction is likely the main cause of CKD, local inflammation due to encrustations, and pyelonephritis may also contribute to renal function deterioration. Recent studies indicate an increase in the incidence of Corynebacterium urinary infections, 25 suggesting a potential underestimation of encrusted pyelitis and cystitis. Corynebacterium urinary colonization is observed in <1% of patients, mostly in those who had been hospitalized and had previous antibiotic treatment and urologic gestures, as observed in our study.…”

Encrusted Uropathy: A Comprehensive Overview—To the Bottom of the Crust

“…Most commonly, encrusted uropathy is encountered in patients with predisposing conditions [Table 1; (3)(4)(5)(6)], but a rare case has been described in a patient without apparent underlying risk factors (7). While encrusted cystitis was first described in 1914 (1), the first cases of encrusted pyelitis were reported only 80 years later, in renal transplant recipients (8).…”

“…With men accounting for 55-76% of positive CU urine cultures (3)(4)(5)16), CU bacteriuria has a clear male predilection, in contrast to CU skin colonization rates (15), likely reflecting the higher frequency of urological procedures and manipulations in males. The mean age of patients developing CU bacteriuria is 58-68 years (3)(4)(5)16) and risk factors include prolonged hospitalization, reported in 73-75% of patients, previous urological disease in 50-64%, urological manipulation in 55-83% (bladder catheterization in 55-77%), previous urinary tract infection in 42-61%, immunosuppressed status in 27-41%, chronic debilitating disease in 48-52% and antibiotic use during the previous 3 months in 73-93% (3, 4, 16, 21). In a series of renal transplant recipients, other than CU skin colonization, independent risk factors for the development of CU bacteriuria were antibiotic treatment in the previous month and history of nephrostomy (27).…”

“…Encrustations of the bladder mucosa may lead to the development of a fibrotic, retractile bladder with impaired function and reduced bladder volume. Prostatic involvement and encrustation of foreign objects like vesical and ureteral catheters/stents and meshes has been described (5). Urethral encrustations due to encrusted urethritis may cause meatus or other urethral stenosis (60).…”