Corynebacterium jeikeium infection of ventriculoperitoneal shunt: A case report

Shunt infection is considered the major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cerebrospinal fluid shunts. The rate of infection of the ventriculoperitoneal devices ranges between 2% and 31%. Organisms that infect shunts are predominantly of low virulence and usually are normal skin bacteria such as Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus. Streptococci, gram-negative bacilli and Corynebacterium spp account for a small proportion of infections. Multiresistant coryneform (Group JK) shunt infection are particularly rare; 9 cases have been reported in the literature. Most Corynebacterium jeikeium are characterized by resistance to many antibacterial agents except vancomycin; shunt removal is often required.