1. Hard-to-heal peripheral wounds infected with Corynebacterium striatum: a prospective study
- Author
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Virgilio, Edoardo, Solmone, Mariacarmela, Scardigno, Alessandro, Fradiani, Piera, Ceci, Diego, Teggi, Antonella, Enea Di Domenico, Gino, Cavallo, Ilaria, Ensoli, Fabrizio, Borro, Marina, Simmaco, Maurizio, Santino, Iolanda, and Cavallini, Marco
- Abstract
Objective:To investigate Corynebacterium striatumas a nosocomial pathogen infecting hard-to-heal peripheral wounds, such as skin wounds, soft tissue abscesses and osteomyelitis. As of 2023, the medical community were alerted against the risk of emerging systemic and central infections; on the other hand literature on peripheral cutaneous regions is still scarce.Method:In this study, two groups of patients with similar lesions which were infected were compared: one group with the presence of the coryneform rod, the other without.Results:In total, Corynebacterium striatumwas cultured from 62 patients and 131 samples. Corynebacterium striatuminfection correlated well with the presence of: foot ulcer; venous leg ulcer; altered ambulation and/or altered foot loading; peripheral vascular and arterial disease; hospitalisation; malignancy; spinal cord injury; and recent administration of antibiotics (p<0.05 for all associations). Patients with Corynebacterium striatumhad a lower overall survival rate compared to patients in the non-Corynebacterium striatumgroup (28.6 versus 31.6 months, respectively; p=0.0285). Multivariate analysis revealed that Corynebacterium striatuminfection was an independent factor for poor prognosis (p<0.0001).Conclusion:In view of the findings of our study, Corynebacterium striatumappears to be an important opportunistic pathogen infecting peripheral tissues and complicating wound healing. Given its numerous and worrying virulence factors (such as multidrug resistance and biofilm production), particular attention should be given to this pathogen by professional wound care providers in nosocomial and outpatient environments.
- Published
- 2023
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