Leifsonia aquatica: case report and literature review

Abstract

Non-diphtheria Corynebacterium species have been increasingly recognized as multidrug resistant pathogens that also infect immunocompromised patients. Automated and semi-automated phenotypic tests have been used by clinical laboratories for detection of these gram-positive rods. The present case report describes the rare pediatric case of L. aquatica isolated in central venous catheter blood cultures during chemotherapy treatment for Wilms tumor and adds to the knowledge on this infection with regard to pediatric cancer. The clinical aspects of this patient and opportunities for improving treatment were reviewed. Additionally, a review of the literature revealed no other case report involving cancer and a pediatric patient with documented L. aquatica bacteremia. Corynebacterial infections are considered uncommon, but in recent decades' reports on infection with bacterium are increasing in frequency, particularly in nosocomial immunocompromised patients.