Corynebacterium striatum Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Device Infection

Abstract

We present a case of a 77-year-old male with persistent gram-positive nonYspore-forming bacillus bacteremia that developed several months after a right femoral-popliteal bypass for critical limb ischemia and a nonhealing toe amputation site. He required an implantable cardioverter defibrillator concomitantly for secondary prevention of ventricular fibrillation. Initially suspected to be a contaminant and subsequently growing from the implantable cardioverter defibrillator leads, all isolates were identified as Corynebacterium striatum. The patient was successfully treated with a prolonged course of antibiotics and explantation of the defibrillator. This represents the first case reported in the literature of Corynebacterium striatum cardiovascular implantable electronic device infection from an apparent noncontiguous source. Multiple isolates of indistinguishable diphtheroids from multiple blood cultures in patients with implantable devices should be considered clinically significant.