Septicemia due to Corynebacterium haemolyticum

Abstract

A 65-year-old man in generally good health presented with symptoms of sepsis and mental confusion. Corynebacterium haemolyticum was isolated from three blood cultures, and a significant increase in the titer of immunofluorescent antibodies to the infecting organism was observed. Antigen of C. haemolyticum was demonstrated by double immunodiffusion in samples of cerebrospinal fluid and urine. The patient recovered after i.v. administration of 20 Mu/day penicillin. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the third reported human infection with C. haemolyticum with involvement of the central nervous system.