LAUSR

Corynebacterium Striatum is a gram positive bacillus. It is part of normal flora of skin and mucus membranes in humans. It is included in non-diphtheroid Corynebacterium group and is generally considered nonpathogenic in humans [1]. Given its ubiquitous nature in the environment and on human body surfaces, a positive blood culture is commonly presumed to be a contaminant. However, there are some case reports of C striatum species causing nosocomial infections, especially as an opportunistic pathogen in immuno-compromised hosts [1]. Recently cases have been described of infections in immuno-competent hosts [2,3]. There is also some evidence that this bacteria can be multi drug resistant [4]. Rarely, C striatum can be associated with diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation [5], skin infections like cellulitis or deep tissue infections, osteomyelitis [6], prosthetic device infections [7], meningitis [8] and infective endocarditis with native or prosthetic valve involvement and device associated Infective endocarditis [9]. We present two cases of infective endocarditis with abscess formation and conduction abnormalities caused by C striatum. Case 1 was device associated and Case 2 had native valve involvement.