Corynebacterium jeikeium

Gram Stain

• Gram positive bacilli irregular club shaped (aerobic) 

Clinical Significance

This organism is found in hospital environments and colonizes the skin of hospitalized patients especially those who have received previous broad spectrum antibiotics.

Prolonged hospital stay, neutropenia and loss of skin/soft tissue integrity are risk factors.

It has been associated with medical device related, wound, bone and urinary tract infections, peritonitis, bacteremia, endocarditis, and meningitis.

Usual Susceptibility Pattern

This organism is typically susceptible to vancomycin and linezolid.

It has variable susceptibility to macrolides and exhibits resistance to penicillin, clindamycin, tetracyclines, quinolones, and aminoglycosides.