Multidrug-resistant Corynebacterium striatum-induced severe pneumonia complicated with multiple organ failure: a diagnostic breakthrough guided by phagocytosis and therapeutic strategy.

Ruofan Wang, Xiaosong Xu, Zhilong Zheng, Ruiying Li, Xiangsheng Cai

Abstract readCase Reports

In one paragraph

Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Ruofan WangClinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China.

Xiaosong XuClinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China.

Zhilong ZhengClinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China.

Ruiying LiClinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China.

Xiangsheng CaiClinical Laboratory, Guangzhou Cadre and Talent Health Management Center, Guangzhou Eleventh People's Hospital, Guangzhou, China. xiangshengcai@yeah.net.

Funding

Fund of Guangzhou Municipal Health Commission 20241A010099, 20242A011033the Fund of Guangdong Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine 20241242

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCorynebacterium striatum (C. striatum), a Gram-positive opportunistic pathogen, is increasingly linked to healthcare-associated pneumonia (HAP) in immunocompromised patients, but its nonspecific manifestations and multidrug resistance cause diagnostic delays. This case adds to literature by highlighting neutrophil phagocytosis in sputum smears as a pivotal clue for distinguishing C. striatum infection from contamination, especially in mixed infections. A 56-year-old female with uncontrolled diabetes, hypertension, and post-cerebral hemorrhage sequelae developed severe pneumonia, complicated by septic shock, CRRT-requiring acute kidney injury, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Initial therapy for Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa failed. Sputum smear showed neutrophils phagocytosing Gram-positive rods; culture confirmed multidrug-resistant C. striatum. Therapy with ceftazidime-avibactam, vancomycin, and caspofungin improved outcomes.

conclusionMicroscopic detection of phagocytosis aids early C. striatum identification; dynamic etiological monitoring and individualized combination therapy are critical for refractory HAP in immunocompromised patients.

Indexed as

CorynebacteriumCorynebacterium InfectionsDrug Resistance, Multiple, BacterialMultiple Organ FailurePneumonia, BacterialAnti-Bacterial AgentsFemaleHumansImmunocompromised HostMiddle AgedPhagocytosisAnti-Bacterial AgentsCombination therapyCorynebacterium striatumMultidrug resistanceMultiple organ failureNeutrophil phagocytosisSevere pneumonia

Identifiers

PMID42168890

DOI10.1186/s12879-026-13605-y

PMCPMC13445822

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