Native mitral valve endocarditis due to Corynebacterium striatum, an uncommon pathogen

Abstract

Corynebacterium striatum, a commensal gram-positive rod, is an emerging cause of human disease in individuals with multiple comorbidities and in immunocompromised patient populations. New microbiologic laboratory tests including molecular diagnostics with greater sensitivity to detect pathogens facilitate appropriate clinical diagnosis and treatment to decrease patient morbidity and mortality. Here we report a case of community-acquired C. striatum infective endocarditis of a native mitral valve in a patient with multiple comorbidities.

Keywords: Corynebacterium striatum; gram-positive bacteremia; infective endocarditis.