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Bacilos Gram-positivos

Corynebacterium jeikeium

Pleomorphic Gram-positive bacilli in palisades

Identification & Growth

Identification

  • Catalase-positive, lipophilic (growth enhanced by Tween 80), urease-negative

Growth Conditions

  • Blood agar, 35–37 °C, small colonies at 48 h

Clinical Significance

  • Catheter-related bacteremia, prosthetic and wound infection in hemato-oncology

Intrinsic Resistance

  • Naturally multidrug-resistant; fosfomycin has no activity against corynebacteria

Bench Alerts

  • Vancomycin is the predictable therapy — test by MIC (BrCAST/EUCAST Corynebacterium criteria)
  • Repeated isolation from blood cultures in a catheter carrier is not contamination

Clinical Notes

Clinical presentations

  • Causes catheter-related bacteremia and native or prosthetic valve endocarditis in immunocompromised and neutropenic patients.
  • Associated with skin and soft tissue infections in long-hospitalized patients.
  • Can cause orthopedic device and shunt infections.

Specimens and collection

  • Paired catheter and peripheral blood cultures aid differentiation between infection and skin contamination.
  • Catheter tip culture is indicated when device-related infection is suspected.
  • Skin swab alone is not useful, as the organism normally colonizes hospitalized patients' skin.

Epidemiology and at-risk populations

  • Colonizes the skin of hospitalized patients, particularly axillae, groin, and perineum.
  • Neutropenic, transplant, and long-term catheterized patients have increased risk.
  • Hospital outbreaks have been described in hemato-oncology units associated with cross-colonization.

Resistance and therapeutic implications

  • Exhibits intrinsic or acquired resistance to most beta-lactams and frequently to multiple antimicrobial classes.
  • Vancomycin is the empiric treatment of choice for suspected invasive infections pending susceptibility results.
  • Catheter removal is frequently necessary for resolution of device-associated bacteremia.

Bench and reporting notes

  • Lipophilic, slow-growing Gram-positive bacillus; requires Tween 80-supplemented media for optimal growth.
  • Repeated isolation across multiple blood cultures from an at-risk patient suggests clinical significance rather than contamination.
  • MALDI-TOF reliably differentiates it from other lipophilic corynebacteria.

Sources

Educational decision-support content. It does not replace laboratory validation, current guidelines or review by the responsible professional.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Corynebacterium jeikeium in the lab?

Corynebacterium jeikeium is identified through catalase-positive, lipophilic (growth enhanced by tween 80), urease-negative.

What are the intrinsic resistances of Corynebacterium jeikeium?

This organism is naturally resistant to naturally multidrug-resistant; fosfomycin has no activity against corynebacteria. These drugs should not be reported as susceptible.

Where is Corynebacterium jeikeium commonly found?

It is typically associated with catheter-related bacteremia, prosthetic and wound infection in hemato-oncology.

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