Cluster of Nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae Infective Endocarditis and Rising Background C. diphtheriae Cases-Seattle, Washington, 2020-2023.
Clin Infect Dis
; 78(5): 1214-1221, 2024 May 15.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38381586
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae, often associated with wounds, can rarely cause infective endocarditis (IE). Five patients with C. diphtheriae IE were identified within 12 months at a Seattle-based hospital system. We reviewed prior C. diphtheriae-positive cultures to determine if detections had increased over time and evaluated epidemiologic trends.METHODS:
We conducted a formal electronic health record search to identify all patients aged ≥18 years with C. diphtheriae detected in a clinical specimen (ie, wound, blood, sputum) between 1 September 2020 and 1 April 2023. We collected patient demographics, housing status, comorbidities, substance-use history, and level of medical care required at detection. We extracted laboratory data on susceptibilities of C. diphtheriae isolates and on other pathogens detected at the time of C. diphtheriae identification.RESULTS:
Between 1 September 2020 and 1 April 2023, 44 patients (median age, 44 years) had a C. diphtheriae-positive clinical culture, with most detections occurring after March 2022. Patients were predominantly male (75%), White (66%), unstably housed (77%), and had a lifetime history of injecting drugs (75%). Most C. diphtheriae-positive cultures were polymicrobial, including wound cultures from 36 (82%) patients and blood cultures from 6 (14%) patients, not mutually exclusive. Thirty-four patients (77%), including all 5 patients with C. diphtheriae IE, required hospital admission for C. diphtheriae or a related condition. Of the 5 patients with IE, 3 died of IE and 1 from COVID-19.CONCLUSIONS:
Findings suggest a high-morbidity outbreak disproportionately affecting patients who use substances and are unstably housed.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Corynebacterium diphtheriae
/
Diphtheria
Limits:
Adult
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Aged
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
Clin Infect Dis
Journal subject:
DOENCAS TRANSMISSIVEIS
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Country of publication: