- Author:
Ji An HUR
1
;
Sang Il KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords: Corynebacterium macginleyi; Pneumonia; Human immunodeficiency virus
- MeSH: Adult; Bacterial Infections; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Conjunctivitis; Corynebacterium; Cough; Dyspnea; Endophthalmitis; Eye; Eye Infections; Fever; Glass; HIV; HIV Infections; Homosexuality; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Keratitis; Lung; Methenamine; Pneumonia; Prednisolone; Thorax; Vancomycin
- From:Infection and Chemotherapy 2010;42(5):319-322
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Corynebacterium macginleyi is usually isolated from the eye surfaces and causes ocular infections such as conjunctivitis, keratitis, and endophthalmitis. However, cases that describe C. macginleyi as the causative agent for significant and life-threatening infections in immunocompromised patients are increasingly reported. Herein we report the first documented case of C. macginleyi pneumonia in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patient. A 42-year-old homosexual man with HIV infection was hospitalized with a 1-month history of fever and dry cough. Chest radiograph revealed ill defined ground glass opacities in both lung fields. Methenamine silver stain of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was negative. He showed clinical improvement after treatment with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and prednisolone for three weeks, and was discharged. One month later, he presented with dyspnea and more progressive pulmonary infiltrations. Bronchial washing fluid culture yielded >100,000 colonies/mL of C. macginleyi, and he was given a 14-day course of antibiotic therapy with vancomycin, after which the patient fully recovered. This case suggest the importance of not overlooking the significance of positive cultures for C. macginleyi obtained from representative clinical samples in patients with signs and symptoms of bacterial infection.