CORYNEBACTERIUM STRIATUM (CS) - IMPLICATIONS IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF VENTILATOR-ASSOCIATED PNEUMONIA (VAP). LOCAL PECULIARITIES OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND TREATMENT
Abstract:
Nondiphtherial corynebacteria may induce alone or along with other germs, severe respiratory
infections in critically ill patients. We conducted a retrospective study over a period of one year, which
included patients diagnosed with VAP using CDC diagnostic criterion. Patients were divided into three
groups: group A comprising 12 patients who developed infection only with Cs, group B comprising 16
patients with VAP produced by Cs and other pathogens and group C comprising 127 patients as reference
group. VAP incidence with Cs was 11.2% of all infections, 42% representing single infection, the others co
infections or super infections with Cs. Cs infection was associated statistically significant (p <0.05) with
severe neurological pathology. VAP mortality induced by this germ was 58%, significantly higher value
compared to local mortality in VAP (35%). Evolution was more severe and increased mortality in cases of
co infection/super infection particularly in combination with Acinetobacter spp. If the initially the pathogen
was sensitive to antibiotics, further the spectrum of resistance narrowed, germ became resistant to
carbapenems and quinolones. Evolution of pulmonary infections due to Cs is severe because of its high
pathogenicity, acquired microbial resistance to carbapenems and immunological profile of the critically ill
patient.
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